July 30 marks six months since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of global concern due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The virus has killed more than 669,000 people worldwide with more than 17 million cases confirmed.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO said Thursday during a briefing in Geneva, "We must all learn to live with the virus," he added, "and to take the steps necessary to live our lives while protecting ourselves and others – especially those at highest risk of Covid-19."

The U.S. remains the world leader in the pandemic,  accounting for roughly a quarter of both deaths and cases.Johns Hopkins University has reported Thursday afternoon,  more than 4.4 million confirmed cases in the United States, and more than 151,000 people have died from the virus in the U.S..

Florida reported 253 coronavirus deaths on Thursday,  a new daily record for the third day in a row.

Herman Cain, former Republican presidential candidate and co-chair of Black Voices for Trump has died from COVID-19.Cain was hospitalized this month after attending a campaign rally in June for President Trump in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

Cain was one of many Trump surrogates, where up to eight advance team staff members tested positive for the virus at the rally.

As students return this fall, reopening schools across the country may become another victim of the pandemic.

Washington, D.C. Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn announced on Thursday that public schools will all be virtual until November. Reversing an earlier decision to hold both virtual and in-person classes.

"We all understand that this school year will require flexibility from everyone, and with that in mind we are moving forward with an all virtual start to the school year for students in pre-K through the 12th grade for term one until November 6," Kihn said. 

The U.S. economic recovery continues threatened by the COVID-19.  On Thursday, the U.S. government said that the economy shrank at a record-breaking 33 percent rate from April to June as COVID-19 shuttered businesses and triggered layoffs.

And jobless claims rose for the second straight week, more than 1.4 million laid-off workers filed for unemployment benefits last week as COVID-19 surges across the nation.

Brazil has become the second country in the world with more than 2.5 million confirmed cases.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's wife and one of his ministers have tested positive for COVID-19, according to an official statement on Thursday.

Just days after her husband said he had overcome the virus with a negative test following weeks in quarantine, Bolsonaro's wife Michelle has tested positive, the presidential office said in a statement.

The world's third-largest COVID-19 cases load in India, with over 1.5 million people infected.

The country's health ministry Rajesh Bhushan reported another record surge on Thursday. The country has added nearly 100,000 new cases almost every two days.