November 15 coronavirus news | CNN

November 15 coronavirus news

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Dr. Fauci discusses Trump impeding transition amid pandemic
01:47 - Source: CNN

What you need to know

  • More than 54 million cases of Covid-19 have been recorded worldwide.
  • The US has surpassed 10.8 million cases and 245,000 deaths, as states continue to break daily records.
  • An influential Covid-19 model projects the US death toll may reach 439,000 by March 1.

Our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic has moved here.

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British prime minister is self-isolating after Covid-19 exposure

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street on November 10 in London, England.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is self-isolating after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19, a Downing Street spokesperson said Sunday.

“The prime minister will follow the rules and is self-isolating,” the spokesperson added. “He will carry on working from Downing Street, including on leading the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.”

“The PM is well and does not have any symptoms of Covid-19,” the spokesperson said. 

Johnson met with a small group of MPs in No 10 on Thursday morning, including Lee Anderson, the MP for Ashfield, Downing Street said. Anderson subsequently developed Covid-19 symptoms and has now tested positive.

More than 10,000 new Covid-19 cases reported in California

Motorists line up for Covid-19 testing at Dodger Stadium on November 14 in Los Angeles, California.

More than 10,000 new cases of Covid-19 were reported by the California Department of Public Health Sunday.

There were 10,968 newly confirmed cases recorded Sunday, according to a news release issued by the agency on Sunday.

There are now a total of 1,019,345 confirmed cases in California since the pandemic began, the release said.

There have been 18,253 Covid-19 deaths reported in the state since the pandemic began, the release said.

The seven-day positivity rate is now 4.8% and the 14-day positivity rate is 4.4%, according to the release.

The release aide 195,189 additional tests were reported Sunday, with a total of 20,866,785 tests conducted in the state. 

More than 245,000 people have died from coronavirus in the US

There are at least 10,962,835 cases of coronavirus in the US and at least 245,933 people have died from the virus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

As of Sunday afternoon, 58,945 new cases and 335 new deaths have been reported in the US since midnight. The total includes cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases.      

New Jersey reports more than 4,500 new Covid-19 cases

New Jersey reported more than 4,500 new positive Covid-19 cases Sunday, according to a tweet from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. 

The state also reported 18 deaths from the virus. 

This brings the statewide Covid-19 total cases to 279,274 and total number of deaths from the virus to 14,765.

One thing to note: These numbers were released by the city’s health agency, and may not line up exactly in real time with CNN’s database drawn from Johns Hopkins University and the Covid Tracking Project.

Texas' Dallas County hits new daily high of Covid-19 cases

Dallas County Health and Human Services (HHS) reported a record 1,543 new Covid-19 cases and a “potential for record high hospitalizations,” according to a county case update from HHS. 

The positivity rate in Dallas County for the week ending on Nov. 7 was 15.3%, HHS said. 

County health officials “continue to see additional increases” and the forecasting from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center predicts potential for record high hospitalizations,” according to HHS.   

Algerian president finishes Covid-19 treatment, state news agency says

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune seen in Algiers in January.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has finished treatment for Covid-19, state news agency Algerian Press Service (APS) reported Sunday.

According to the APS, a statement from the medical staff caring for Tebboune at a specialised German hospital said that Tebboune “had completed the prescribed treatment and is currently undergoing post-treatment medical exams.”

A statement from the 74-year-old president’s office on Nov. 3 said that he was receiving treatment for Covid-19 in the German hospital and that he was “responding to the treatment and his health condition is gradually improving.”

Some context: A previous statement from the president’s office on Oct. 28 had announced that he had been transferred to Germany for medical examinations but had not specified whether the treatment was for Covid-19.

German minister warns of "another 4-5 months of significant precautions and restrictions"

German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier attends a press conference on October 30 in Berlin.

Germans should prepare for another four to five months of significant precautions and restrictions, and shouldn’t speculate about when measures can be relaxed, German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.

Altmaier praised “the discipline of the people” during the country’s second lockdown, but warned that the number of infections is still “too high” and that the country is “not out of the woods yet. Despite all efforts, a change for the better has not yet been achieved.”

By the numbers: The country reported 16,947 new coronavirus cases and 107 deaths on Sunday according to the Robert Koch Institute. Weekend figures tend to be lower however as not all data is reported by local authorities. The total number of cases in the country was 790,503 on Sunday.

Germany is currently two weeks into a nationwide partial lockdown which requires restaurant and bars to remain closed, people to avoid travel, “keep their contacts to an absolute minimum” and limit public meetings to members of two different households. Schools and shops have remained open.

“The wave of infections must be broken permanently. We cannot afford a yo-yo shutdown with the economy opening and closing all the time,” Altmaier responded when asked about an extension to the current partial lockdown. 

Fauci says the nation could start getting back to relative normality by April or July

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious expert, told CNN he thinks the nation could start getting back to relative normality by April or July of 2021 saying he thought that would be possible to achieve by the second or third quarter next year.

When Americans can gather again depends on a number of factors, Fauci told CNN giving the example of vaccines.

Fauci pointed to the manufacturer Pfizer’s announcement that its early data shows its vaccine is more than 90% effective and a second company is expected to soon unveil its early results. 

But all things have to be put together, he said, America “can’t just wish it happening.”

Vaccines have to come, they have to be deployed and fundamental public health measures can’t be abandoned, Fauci said.

Czech Republic reports further decline in Covid-19 cases since early November highs

The Czech Republic has reported a further decline in daily Covid-19 infections and deaths since record highs in early November.

The country recorded 4,199 new cases on Saturday, down by more than 3,500 from the previous Saturday, according to Johns Hopkins University. Some 132 new fatalities were reported, taking the country’s total coronavirus death toll to 6,058 as of Saturday, the latest day for which complete figures are available.

The Czech Republic has reported 458,229 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began.

Czech Education Minister Robert Plaga announced the partial­ reopening of schools on Wednesday, allowing first and second grade students to return to classrooms from Nov. 18. Older students will continue to study from home.

The country is currently in its second national coronavirus lockdown, requiring the closure of most schools, restricted movement, and the closure of many shops and services.

NYC schools will be open Monday as 7-day coronavirus positivity rate remains under 3%

High school students listen to questions posed by their principal in Brooklyn, New York, on October 29.

New York City schools will remain open Monday, as the city’s seven-day test positivity rate continues to remain under 3%.

The 7-day average test positivity rate is 2.57%, Bill Neidhardt, a spokesperson for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, said in a statement Sunday morning.

More context: If the test positivity rate reached or exceeded 3%, city schools could be closed and students would move to all -remote learning, the mayor has previously said.

“Today, schools currently remain open, based on today’s 7-day test positivity rate. Again, we expect the daily test positivity to backfill and increase as more tests results are entered into the system, but do not expect that increase to push today’s 7-day average to 3%,” Neidhardt said in an email. 

The mayor shared his gratitude on Twitter, saying in part, “Thankfully, schools will remain open on Monday, but we have to keep fighting back with everything we’ve got.”

In addition to the test positivity rate, at least 937 positive cases of Covid-19 have been reported Sunday and 117 people have been admitted to hospitals across the city, the email said.

Remember: These numbers were released by the city’s health agency, and may not line up exactly in real time with CNN’s database drawn from Johns Hopkins University and the Covid Tracking Project.

Fauci says it's been months since Trump attended a White House Coronavirus Task Force meeting

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease doctor, told CNN that it has been months since President Trump attended a White House Coronavirus Task Force meeting.

Fauci noted that Vice President Mike Pence is the administration’s point person on the task force and he “translates” to Trump what the task force discusses.

Here’s what Fauci said this morning about Trump and the task force meetings:

Fauci on the pandemic: "We can get this to plateau, to come down"

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert in the US, said a nationwide policy on masks and social distancing is crucial to mitigating the spread of Covid-19.

Fauci’s comments come just after the US recorded 184,000 new Covid-19 cases on Friday.

Fauci added that without a nationwide policy, the US could hit 439,000 total deaths due to Covid-19 by March 1.

Dr. Anthony Fauci to speak on CNN

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, will be discussing the coronavirus pandemic on CNN’s “State of the Union” at 9 a.m. ET.

Domestic travelers in Australia ordered into self-quarantine after mid-flight interstate rule change

Authorities in Perth, Australia, told a planeload of domestic travelers on Sunday that they must either leave the state or undergo a two-week self-quarantine after the Western Australian (WA) government changed its border policy while they were mid-flight.

On Sunday the WA government added South Australia (SA) to its list of Australian States subject to a 14-day self-quarantine, after SA announced three cases of community transmission in Adelaide.

The airport was otherwise a scene of joyous reunions on Sunday, one day after a 222-day interstate hard border ended. The WA government introduced a so-called “controlled border” on Saturday with other States of Australia, after shutting off travel from the rest of the country in March to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Only international travelers, and domestic arrivals from the states of Victoria, New South Wales and SA will be forced into quarantine.

The WA government released a statement Sunday and said the measures will be regularly reviewed.

International travelers are still banned from entering Australia during the pandemic, unless they are citizens, permanent residents or have successfully applied for an exemption. Those who do return from overseas must undergo 14 days of strict hotel quarantine.

"We expect this to get harder." For the NFL, it's Super Bowl or bust as the pandemic rages

A general view of empty stands at Raymond James Stadium during a game between the South Florida Bulls and the Citadel Bulldogs on September 12 in Tampa, Florida.

The Super Bowl, the crown jewel of American sports, is scheduled for the first Sunday in February at Raymond James Stadium in Florida at a time when total US deaths from the coronavirus are projected to be nearly 400,000 – about six times the venue’s seating capacity.

“Our objective is for all teams to safely and responsibly complete the regular season within our 17-week schedule – and have a full postseason, culminating with the Super Bowl with fans in the stands on February 7th in Tampa,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said last week as the league embarked on the second half of the season.

“We are committed to completing the season as scheduled.”

“Getting to the Super Bowl, it’s completely possible,” said Tara Kirk Sell, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “It really depends on both your tolerance for risk and tolerance for having cases. And if you really don’t care about having too many cases, then there’s really no problem, right? I do think the league has done a lot of good things to reduce risk. The question is: Is that enough? And it’s going to get so much harder going forward.”

Read the full story:

Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs dons a mask on the sideline earlier this season.

Related article 'We expect this to get harder.' For the NFL, it's Super Bowl or bust as the pandemic rages

Fire kills 10 Covid-19 patients in Romanian hospital

Members of the emergency services work at the scene of a hospital fire where the intensive care unit was burned in Piatra Neamt, Romania, on November 14.

At least 10 people have been killed in a fire at a Romanian hospital treating Covid-19 patients, the hospital’s spokesperson said in a statement Saturday. They were all patients.

The blaze broke out in an intensive care unit treating a total of 16 coronavirus patients at the Piatra Neamt County Emergency Hospital. 

The “tragedy…has left the whole country mourning,” Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis said in a statement on Saturday.

Several other people were seriously injured, including a doctor who tried to rescue the patients. The doctor suffered burns on 40% of his body and is currently in a stable condition, the statement read.

Romanian Prime Minister Ludovic Orban called the doctor a hero for running into the blaze to help the patients, some of them unconscious and on ventilators. 

Cases are soaring in the country. On Saturday, there were 557 Covid-19 cases for every 100,000 people, according to a two-week average compiled by European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). In total there have been 353,185 confirmed cases of the virus and 8,813 Covid-19 related deaths since the pandemic started, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Coronavirus spread across the US pushes Colorado to ramp up emergency response

A sign reminds students, faculty and visitors to maintain social distance to combat the spread of the coronavirus while on the campus of the Colorado School of Mines, in Golden, Colorado, on November 9.

As the United States grapples with a steep surge in Covid-19 cases, states such as Colorado are enacting emergency measures.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis ordered the state’s Emergency Operations center to return to the highest level of operations so that all agencies, federal partners and voluntary organizations can work together to respond to the spread and hospitals can prepare for threats to capacity, the governor’s office said Saturday.

With 1,100 residents in the hospital with the virus and more than 4,400 new cases reported Saturday, the state health department said, Colorado is just one of many states racing to respond to spiking cases. Across the country, 45 states are reporting an increase of cases above 10% compared to last week, which has brought the national total to more than 10.9 million cases and 245,600 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Read the full story:

Medical staff attending to patients stricken with COVID-19 don protective equipment in a unit dedicated to treatment of the novel coronavirus at UW Health in Madison, Wis. Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020.  Until recently, the hospital had four wings for coronavirus patients. To meet growing demand, it added another wing. (John Hart/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

Related article Coronavirus spread across the US pushes Colorado to ramp up emergency response

They saved lives during the pandemic -- now they're facing deportation from Ireland

Healthcare workers are facing deportation in Ireland in the middle of a pandemic.

Lily was taking her lunch break at the Dublin nursing home where she works when a friend called with the news that an official-looking letter had arrived for her. 

She asked the friend to open it and read it aloud.  

A flood of emotions rushed up at her, through the layers of her protective equipment. Lily said she wanted to cry, but forced the tears back down inside. 

“I had to stay strong for the residents,” she said. “So, I put on a smile but deep down it was incredibly painful.”

Lily – whose name has been changed for her safety – said she fled anti-LGBTQ persecution in her native Zimbabwe and came to Ireland in 2016. 

She wanted to help others, so studied to qualify as a healthcare assistant; she landed a job as a care worker at a nursing home last year, and hopes to study for her nursing degree in future. 

She has worked at the care home throughout the coronavirus pandemic, taking only three weeks off when she contracted the virus herself in April. 

Near the beginning of the pandemic, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organization reported that Ireland had the highest rate of Covid-19 infection among healthcare workers anywhere in Europe.

Once she had recovered, Lily returned to work. In the months that followed, she said she watched as the disease took the lives of some of the elderly residents she had cared for. 

“There were so many people dying. It was unbearable,” she said.

Now, with deportation looming, Lily feels she’s facing something akin to her own death sentence.

Read the full story:

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Related article They saved lives during the pandemic -- now they're facing deportation from Ireland

The US has now reported more than 10.9 million coronavirus cases

Cars line up at the Dodger Stadium parking lot for Covid-19 testing while the downtown Los Angeles skyline is seen in the distance, in Los Angeles, California, on November 14.

According to Johns Hopkins University’s tally of cases, the United State has recorded at least 10,903,890 cases of coronavirus including 245,598 deaths.

On Saturday, Johns Hopkins University reported 166,555 new cases and 1,266 additional deaths. This is the second highest number of cases reported in a single day since the pandemic began and the 12th consecutive day of new case totals surpassing 100,000, according to JHU data.

The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases. 

For the latest Johns Hopkins University US numbers, check here. CNN’s map using JHU data continues to refresh every 15 mins.

Japan reports a record number of daily Covid-19 cases for the third day in row

Japan reported 1,738 new coronavirus cases on Saturday – the third day in a row it has reported a record number of cases in a single day, the country’s Health Ministry announced Sunday.

The national death toll rose by 13 on Saturday.

Japan’s second biggest prefecture, Osaka posted 285 new cases on Saturday – the second day in a row that it has reported a daily record number of cases.

The nation’s capital, Tokyo added 352 new cases on Saturday, marking the fourth straight day of logging more than 300 patients for a single day.

The total cases in Tokyo stand at 34,496, including 470 deaths.

The latest numbers bring Japan’s nationwide total to 117,389, including 1,896 deaths.