Coronavirus updates: 32 cases, 1 death linked to Maine wedding – ABC News

The global coronavirus pandemic has now killed more than 795,000 people worldwide, nearly a quarter of those in the U.S.

Almost 23 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, unreported cases and suspicions that some national governments are hiding or downplaying the scope of their outbreaks.

The United States is the worst-affected country, with more than 5.6 million diagnosed cases and at least 175,409 deaths.

Latest headlines:

  • US surpasses 175,000 deaths
  • 32 cases, 1 death linked to Maine wedding
  • Here’s how the news is developing today. All times Eastern. Please refresh this page for updates.

    1:14 p.m.: Longer wait times expected at U.S. border

    The U.S. will slow traffic at select ports of entry on the southern border to limit the spread of novel coronavirus by travelers from or moving through Mexico, a Customs and Border Protection official confirmed on Saturday.

    The new measures, first reported by Reuters, may increase wait times at ports of entry in San Diego, in Tucson, Arizona, and in El Paso and Laredo, Texas.

    “We’re committed to continuing to facilitate cross border movement of essential travelers,” CBP spokesperson Nate Peeters said. “These measures are only intended to address non-essential travel with the ultimate goal of the further inhibiting the cross-border spread of COVID-19.” He said it’s still highly recommended that people only travel for essential purposes.

    The restrictions on non-essential travel, set to continue through Sept. 21, do not apply to anyone crossing the border for work, school or medical treatment. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents are still legally allowed to enter.

    Non-essential travel has been limited at the border since March.

    12:11 p.m.: University of Notre Dame sees more cases

    Confirmed cases at Notre Dame increased once again, with the university now reporting 372.

    That is up from the 336 reported Friday since Aug. 3, when testing began. There have been 2,235 tests conducted.

    University President Rev. John Jenkins has decided against sending students home and instead is advising off-campus students not to visit the campus, on-campus students not to venture off campus and restricting gatherings to 10 people or fewer, according to The Associated Press.

    Since Aug. 3, 1,780 tests have been conducted at the Indiana university.

    10:51 a.m.: New lows in NY

    The rate of positive tests, hospitalizations and ICU patients reached new lows in New York compared with mid-March, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

    The rate of positive tests was .69%, while hospitalizations and ICU patients fell to 483 and 116, respectively, Cuomo said.

    “This shows that protecting public health and reopening our economy aren’t mutually exclusive if done the right way, and record-high testing doesn’t equal more positive tests,” he said in a statement.

    There were four deaths in the last 24 hours.

    8:51 a.m.: 51 students quarantined after positive tests at University of Miami

    Four students have tested positive for COVID-19 at the University of Miami, the school said, prompting 51 students to be placed in quarantine.

    The students who tested positive live in Hecht Residential College, however they were “immediately removed” and placed in another location to isolate, the university said in a statement.

    Those quarantined lived on the seventh and eighth floors of the building.

    “The University of Miami has taken unprecedented steps to reengineer the campus to ensure physical distancing and create a safe environment,” the school’s statement read. “Facial coverings are required at all times, except when students are in their residence hall rooms.”

    8:22 a.m.: 15 Minnesota infections linked to Sturgis

    At least 15 cases in Minnesota have been linked to the massive annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, according to state health officials who expect those numbers to rise.

    “I think that we’re expecting to see many more cases associated with Sturgis. Thousands of people attend that event,” Kris Ehresmann, director of infection diseases for the Minnesota Department of Health, said at a press conference Friday. “It’s very likely that we will see more transmission.”

    At least one of those 15 individuals has been hospitalized after a positive test.

    In all cases, officials said those 15 people were at multiple bars and campgrounds. All those who went to Sturgis were advised to self-isolate for 14 days upon returning home.

    The city of Sturgis began testing all city employees along with some first responders on Friday, according to ABC News affiliate KOTA.

    6:10 a.m.: 32 cases, 1 death linked to Maine wedding

    At least 32 positive coronavirus cases and now a woman’s death have been linked to an Aug. 7 wedding reception at the Big Moose Inn in Millinocket, Maine, according to local health officials.

    The woman died Friday, 14 days since the outbreak event.

    Millinocket Regional Hospital reported that it has tested 366 people linked to the wedding reception. The hospital is still waiting on 103 of those tests, it said in a statement Friday.

    “All positive patients have been contacted directly, given care instructions, and further instructed to quarantine,” Robert Peterson, Millinocket Regional Hospital CEO, said in a statement. “The CDC has initiated contact tracing on all positive patients to ascertain the full extent of the outbreak.”

    Due to the outbreak, the health care facility said it has a no-visitation policy and is limiting its services to essential medical care only through Aug. 30.

    The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said 65 people attended the reception and that all confirmed cases, as of Aug. 17, are tied to Maine residents.

    Maine Gov. Janet T. Mills issued an executive order limiting indoor capacity to 50 and outdoor to 100. The state said it’s been in contact with the event space about adhering to those requirements in relation to the outbreak.

    Maine is one of the least-affected states in the U.S., with only 4,286 cases and 129 confirmed deaths.

    What to know about coronavirus:

  • How it started and how to protect yourself: Coronavirus explained
  • What to do if you have symptoms: Coronavirus symptoms
  • Tracking the spread in the U.S. and worldwide: Coronavirus map
  • ABC News’ Quinn Owen and Tom Shine contributed to this report.

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