A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now infected more than 75.5 million people worldwide and killed over 1.6 million of them, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.
Dec 17, 2020, 5:16 AM EST
French President Emmanuel Macron tests positive
French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for COVID-19.
The Elysee Palace, the official residence of the president of France, announced Macron's diagnosis in a statement Thursday morning.
"This diagnosis was established following an RTPCR test performed at the onset of the first symptoms," the palace said.
French President Emmanuel Macron reacts as he meets Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa in Paris, France, on Dec. 16, 2020.
Francois Mori/AP
Macron, 42, will self-isolate for seven days in accordance with public health instructions.
"He will continue to work and carry out his activities remotely," the palace said.
With more than 2.4 million diagnosed cases of COVID-19, France has the fifth-highest tally in the world, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University.
ABC News' Ibtissem Guenfoud contributed to this report.
Dec 17, 2020, 4:30 AM EST
A record 113,069 Americans are currently hospitalized with COVID-19
There were 113,069 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 across the United States on Wednesday, according to data compiled by The COVID Tracking Project, a volunteer-run effort to track the U.S. outbreak.
It's the highest number of current COVID-19 hospitalizations that the U.S. has logged since the start of the pandemic.
Dec 17, 2020, 4:08 AM EST
US hits fresh record highs of 247,403 new cases and 3,656 deaths
There were 247,403 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the United States on Wednesday, marking a fresh record high, according to a real-time count kept by Johns Hopkins University.
It's the 44th straight day that the U.S. has reported over 100,000 newly diagnosed infections. Wednesday's tally shatters the country's previous all-time high of 231,775 new cases confirmed on Dec. 11, according to Johns Hopkins data.
An additional 3,656 deaths from the disease were also registered nationwide on Wednesday, setting yet another record. It's only the fourth time since the pandemic began that the country has reported more than 3,000 COVID-19 deaths in a single day. The country's previous peak of 3,300 fatalities was recorded on Dec. 11, according to Johns Hopkins data.
A nurse supports a patient as they walk in the COVID-19 alternative care site, built into a parking garage, at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nevada, on Dec. 16, 2020.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
A total of 16,979,777 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, and at least 307,501 of them have died, according to Johns Hopkins data. The cases include people from all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and other U.S. territories as well as repatriated citizens.
Much of the country was under lockdown by the end of March as the first wave of pandemic hit. By May 20, all U.S. states had begun lifting stay-at-home orders and other restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The day-to-day increase in the country's cases then hovered around 20,000 for a couple of weeks before shooting back up over the summer.
The numbers lingered around 40,000 to 50,000 from mid-August through early October before surging again to record levels, crossing 100,000 for the first time on Nov. 4 and reaching 200,000 for the first time on Nov. 27.
Dec 17, 2020, 12:06 AM EST
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt tests positive for COVID-19
Interior Department Secretary David Bernhardt has tested positive for COVID-19. The department spokesman, Nicholas Goodwin, confirmed the news Wednesday, after an inquiry from The Washington Post.
Bernhardt received his test results prior to President Donald Trump's Cabinet meeting Wednesday and did not attend the session.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt speaks during the lighting of the National Chanukah Menorah Lighting on the National Mall's Ellipse in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 10, 2020.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
"He is currently asymptomatic and will continue to work on behalf of the American people while in quarantine," Goodwin said in an email.
As a result of Bernhardt's diagnosis, various high-ranking department officials who were in close contact with him this week are now getting tested.
He is the third top official at the department known to have tested positive for the virus since November. Interior's top attorney, Daniel Jorjani, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aurelia Skipwith also tested positive.
