US sets record with 126,742 new cases

The U.S. set another daily record for coronavirus cases Saturday with 126,742, and the world surpassed 50 million total cases Sunday, according to data from Johns Hopkins. Some infectious disease experts believe the U.S. and global numbers are conservative, saying many people are asymptomatic and haven’t been tested.

Daily U.S. deaths are also rising: More than 1,000 were reported Saturday, bringing the toll to more than 237,000. South Dakota was one of four states reporting a record number of deaths for the week.

‘Apex’ of the pandemic could be Inauguration Day, ex-official says

The pandemic won’t be over in 2021 but it will be a much better year than 2020, former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb says. He also predicted that the country would see a record number of hospitalizations this week. When President-elect Joe Biden takes over in January, the nation will probably “be at the apex of what we’re going through right now,” Gottlieb said on “Face the Nation.” Gottlieb also said he does not believe the U.S. will have a traditional inauguration that brings together hundreds of thousands of people on the National Mall.

Trump’s chief of staff along with 5 other staffers have COVID-19

President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, has the coronavirus, according to reports Friday. It wasn’t clear when he tested positive, but multiple news outlets said Meadows informed advisers of his diagnosis after Election Day. Five other White House officials also tested positive in the days before and after Election Day, people familiar with the diagnoses told The New York Times.

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz told USA TODAY on Saturday he has tested “positive for antibodies,” indicating that he had the virus at one point. He said he has no plans to quarantine.