October 28 coronavirus news

By Nectar Gan, Adam Renton, Emma Reynolds, Ed Upright, Vasco Cotovio, Meg Wagner and Mike Hayes, CNN

Updated 12:00 a.m. ET, October 29, 2020

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4:33 a.m. ET, October 28, 2020

South Africa's President Ramaphosa begins Covid-19 self-quarantine

From CNN’s Brent Swails in Johannesburg

In this handout photo, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks in Pretoria, South Africa, on June 17. /Sipa USA

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has gone into quarantine after a guest at a dinner he attended at the weekend tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to the presidential office.

Ramaphosa's office released a statement on Wednesday saying that the “the President attended a fundraising dinner of the Adopt-a-School Foundation” on Saturday.

One of the dinner guests showed Covid-19 symptoms the following day and received a positive result on Tuesday, according to the statement.

“The President is showing no symptoms at this time and will, in line with COVID-19 health advice, be tested should symptoms manifest,” the statement said. “The President will perform his duties remotely and will observe the guidelines that apply to self-quarantine.”

South Africa has reported a total of 717,851 coronavirus cases and 19,053 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. The country's daily new cases peaked in July, with multiple days reporting more than 10,000 new infections, but have dropped since August.

3:48 a.m. ET, October 28, 2020

India says local festivals account for many recent Covid-19 infections, but lower numbers are encouraging

From CNN's Manveena Suri in New Delhi

Nearly half of the coronavirus cases reported in India on Tuesday were from five states where people had been celebrating local festivals, according to the Indian Health Ministry.

The Hindu festival Navaratri, or "Nine Nights," took place from October 17-25, culminating in the 10th day -- Dushera. The annual event marks the onset of a new harvest season and is followed by Diwali, the festival of lights, on November 14.

"During the festival, cases have risen in Kerala, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi," Rajesh Bhushan, secretary to the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said at a news conference on Tuesday.

Case for optimism? Despite the rise in cases in the five states, government-led think member VK Paul said that many people had followed Covid-19 guidelines during Navaratri, and given an overall fall in infections over the previous 24 hours, he was hopeful.

"We saw that during the festival season Indians listened to the Prime Minister and followed guidelines; this is a huge deal," Paul said.

Latest numbers: On Tuesday, India reported 36,470 new cases in the previous 24 hours, the lowest single-day rise since July 17.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday announced that it would not reimpose restrictions, while malls, restaurants, gyms, movie theatres, schools and other educational institutions will remain open with guidelines for social distancing in place.

As of Wednesday, India has reported a total of 7,990,322 Covid-19 cases, including 120,010 deaths.

2:59 a.m. ET, October 28, 2020

Seoul to ramp up coronavirus measures ahead of Halloween

From CNN's Jake Kwon and Gawon Bae in Seoul

South Korea's capital, Seoul, will ramp up Covid-19 control measures ahead of Halloween to prevent cluster infections, a health official said on Wednesday.

In May, more than 250 cases were linked to nightlife venues in Seoul, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, causing authorities to temporarily shutter all clubs and bars shortly after.

The city is now taking precautions ahead of the holiday weekend. Park Yoo-mi, the city's director of public health, said it will conduct inspections on more than 150 businesses like clubs and bars from October 28 to November 3.

Businesses in violation of the city's Covid-19 measures will be banned for two weeks, Park said.

Though not an official holiday, Halloween has gained popularity among young people in South Korea in recent years, with many using the occasion to party in nightclubs.

South Korea reported 96 local cases in the past 24 hours, of which 61 were found in the Seoul metropolitan area. South Korea's total number of confirmed cases now stands at 26,146, with 461 deaths.

2:24 a.m. ET, October 28, 2020

US reports more than 73,000 new Covid-19 cases

From CNN's Joe Sutton

The United States reported 73,240 new Covid-19 cases and 985 deaths on Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The nationwide totals now stand at 8,778,680 confirmed Covid-19 infections and at least 226,711 virus-related fatalities.

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

CNN is tracking the US cases:

Tracking Covid-19 cases in the US

3:31 a.m. ET, October 28, 2020

It might not be clear whether Covid-19 vaccines work until after they're already being used, experts warn

From CNN’s Shelby Lin Erdman

A health worker injects a woman during clinical trials for a Covid-19 vaccine at Research Centers of America in Hollywood, Florida, on September 9. Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg/Getty Images

It might not become clear which Covid-19 vaccines work best -- or whether they work at all -- until after they’ve already been authorized and are being given to many people, a team of experts said Tuesday.

With 44 vaccines in clinical trials -- meaning they are being tested in people -- it will be difficult to tell which ones are the most effective in preventing disease, said the experts led by Dr. Susanne Hodgson of Oxford University’s Jenner Institute.

People may expect the vaccines will at least protect against severe infection. “However, protection against severe disease and death is difficult to assess in phase 3 clinical trials due to the unfeasibly large numbers of participants required,” the experts wrote in a review in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases.
“Instead, data to address this end point might be available only from large phase 4 trials or epidemiological studies done after widespread deployment of a vaccine.”

So called Phase 4 trials are usually studies done after regulators approve a vaccine.

Prevention of severe infections: Vaccine developers said at first, people may have to make do with a vaccine that prevents detectable infection, and hope that also means it is preventing severe infections.

“Only a small proportion of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 develop severe disease, which means an extremely large number of volunteers is needed in a clinical trial for there to be enough cases to get a reliable measure of vaccine efficacy,” study co-author Kate Emary, a researcher at the University of Oxford, said in a statement.

“This means that it is likely that we will only know if a vaccine protects against severe disease once it has been deployed and given to a large population,” she added.

Human challenge trials: The team is also urging caution in the use of data provided by controlled human infection studies or challenge trials now underway in Britain. “It is unclear if results from these studies, which are likely to only include young volunteers, will predict vaccine efficacy in older adults,” they wrote.

The researchers are urging vaccine makers to commit to a long-term follow-up of volunteers in Covid-19 vaccine trials because it’s “important, both to evaluate efficacy against severe disease and mortality, and to ensure ongoing evaluation of vaccine safety.”

Four vaccines under development in the US are in the most advanced, Phase 3 clinical trials.

1:44 a.m. ET, October 28, 2020

Coronavirus second wave hits Pakistan

From CNN’s Sophia Saifi in Islamabad

Pakistan’s health ministry has announced that the country is now experiencing its second wave of Covid-19 infections.

Special assistant to the Prime Minister on health, Dr. Faisal Sultan, said at a news conference on Tuesday that he was concerned by the “rate of positivity which increased to 2 and a half percent,” and by the fact that the number of new daily cases has jumped to a range of 700 to 750 per day.

Sultan announced that stricter restrictions and fines will be imposed in the coming days to ensure the public complies with safety procedures previously outlined by the government. Newer, data-based lockdowns would be implemented in neighborhoods hardest hit by the virus, he added.

He said the country “has reached a point where serious decisions have to be made in order to clamp down on the growth of the virus.”

According to the Health Ministry, there are currently 11,627 active cases of coronavirus in Pakistan. In the past 24 hours, 825 new cases and 14 deaths were recorded.

2:27 a.m. ET, October 28, 2020

MLB confirms Dodgers' Justin Turner tested positive for Covid-19

From CNN's Jill Martin

Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after striking out against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning in Game Six of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on October 27. Rob Carr/Getty Images

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner tested positive for Covid-19, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said after the Dodgers won the World Series in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday. Turner was removed during the game.

“It’s a bittersweet night for us,” Manfred said in an on-field interview on FOX Sports. “We’re glad to be done. I think it’s a great accomplishment for our players to get the season completed, but obviously we’re concerned when any of our players test positive. We learned during the game that Justin was a positive. He was immediately isolated to prevent spread.”

In a tweet, Turner said he felt "great" and had "no symptoms."

“Thanks to everyone reaching out!” Turner said. “I feel great, no symptoms at all. Just experienced every emotion you can possibly imagine. Can’t believe I couldn’t be out there to celebrate with my guys! So proud of this team & unbelievably happy for the City of LA”

However, Turner later returned to the field to celebrate with his teammates and the World Series trophy. This was shown on FOX Sports 1 in a World Series postgame show moments ago.

The Dodgers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 in Game 6 to win the best-of-seven series four games to two, ending a 32-year wait to be crowned champions.

Read more about the game here:

Dodgers win World Series for first time since 1988

2:37 a.m. ET, October 28, 2020

Los Angeles County health officials raise concerns over coronavirus spread amid MLB World Series

From CNN's Sarah Moon

Los Angeles County Public Health director Barbara Ferrer speaks at a press conference on Covid-19 in Los Angeles, on March 6. Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Los Angeles County health officials are raising concerns over an increased spread of coronavirus, laying blame in part on Dodgers fans gathering for MLB World Series viewing parties.

The county reported 1,586 new cases and 29 deaths from the virus on Tuesday.

“COVID-19 spread has increased in L.A. County, and this is a cause for concern,” the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a news release on Tuesday.

According to the release, customers at restaurants were seen not following public health orders while watching sporting events on television. The department is urging all restaurants and bars that show sports events to follow public health orders including, “not allowing customers to congregate in any areas or around televisions, ensuring guests are seated at a table, and keeping at least six feet of physical distance between tables.”

“Employees should always be wearing appropriate face coverings, and customers should use a face covering when they are not eating or drinking,” the department added.

Officials have issued 48 citations to businesses in the past two weeks for noncompliance with health orders, for a total of 194 citations since the end of August, the department said.

“We continue to warn about the dangers of gatherings and public celebrations because these events create many opportunities for COVID-19 transmission,” Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said in the release. “We encourage all fans to watch and celebrate the World Series safely at home with members of your household and not in gatherings of any size, especially where people are cheering, yelling, and congregating in close distance without face coverings.”

To date, Los Angeles County has reported a total of 302,077 confirmed cases of the virus and 7,027 deaths.

12:25 a.m. ET, October 28, 2020

Only a "small, misguided minority" of Americans aren't wearing masks, says former CDC director

From CNN’s Lauren Mascarenhas

Most Americans seem to understand the importance of responding to Covid-19 with public health measures, like mask-wearing, but the federal response is lacking, former CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden said Tuesday.

“Only about one out of 10 people are not wearing masks,” Frieden told CNN. “That’s a small and misguided minority.”
“Today data came out from the Centers for Disease Control that shows that the proportion of people who report they’re wearing masks went up from 78% to 89%,” he added.

Frieden called the federal coronavirus response “a colossal failure.”

“Most people get it. What we lack is a coordinated federal response,” Frieden said.