This is our daily update of breaking COVID-19 news for Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020. Previous daily updates can be found here, and up-to-date statistics are here.

New York City is in Phase 4 of reopening now, which includes zoos, botanical gardens, museums, and gyms. A look at preparing for the spread of coronavirus is here, and if you have lingering questions about the virus, here is our regularly updated coronavirus FAQ. Here are some local and state hotlines for more information: NYC: 311; NY State Hotline: 888-364-3065; NJ State Hotline: 800-222-1222.

Here's the latest:

3:30 p.m. The United States on Tuesday surpassed 200,000 coronavirus deaths, more than that of any country in the world.

The milestone had been predicted as early as March by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Scientists at the University of Washington are predicting that the total number of U.S. fatalities could reach at least 378,000 by the end of the year. And if states loosen social distancing restrictions further, deaths could exceed 446,000, according to the university's model.

Health experts are concerned about the fall and winter, as cooler temperatures force people indoors and as more businesses and schools reopen. Across the Atlantic, many countries like Spain, France and the U.K. are already experiencing a surge in infections. After a short period of decline, the number of new cases in the U.S. is starting to pick up once again. Texas, Utah, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Puerto Rico are all seeing a precipitous rise in new cases, according to the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus tracker.

Overall, the U.S. is reporting around 40,000 new cases a day.

Speaking to CNN on Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said, “We are entering into a risk period and we’ve got to act accordingly as we enter into that risk period."

"And depending upon your own social situation, indoors for you or another person may mean poor ventilation, poor air flow. And difficulty getting the kind of removal of anything that would lead to spread," he added.

Asked by a viewer what grade he would give Trump's pandemic response, Fauci said, "Take a look at the numbers and make up your own mind."

"I mean, you know, we don't need a sound bite from me. Take a look at the numbers," he added.

He did, however, note that some states were "doing quite well," adding, "We can use them as a model, namely of getting a low level of test positivity where you’re talking about 1% or less, or a fraction of a percent."

New York on Tuesday reported a statewide positivity of .89%. Governor Andrew Cuomo has cited a 1% positivity rate as the barometer for deciding how much further the state should reopen its economy and relax restrictions.

Fauci on Tuesday also urged the public to get their flu shots now. Experts are worried that the flu season may collide with coronavirus and produce a "twindemic."

"It's available now. You should get it now," he said, adding, "Don't wait beyond October."

NYC Identifies COVID-19 Upticks In Six Neighborhoods

12:20 p.m. City officials have identified four Brooklyn neighborhoods and two in Queens that are experiencing an uptick in coronavirus cases: Borough Park, Williamsburg, Midwood, Flatbush, Far Rockaway and Kew Gardens.

During his press briefing on Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the city would launch a targeted effort in those neighborhoods to perform greater testing as well as to educate residents on how to avoid contracting and spreading the virus.

Dr. Dave Chokshi, the city's health commissioner, said that in addition to partnering with community organizations, the city was blanketing the neighborhoods with robocolls, WhatsApp messages, sending messages to houses of worship, and placing ads in local newspapers. It is also distributing masks and sanitizers in those neighborhoods.

"Covid is spreading in some neighborhoods faster and wider than the rest of the city," he said.

Of the six neighborhoods, Borough Park has had the highest testing positivity rate over the last four weeks, that of 3.07%. The city's overall positivity rate is 1.14%.

The uptick comes several weeks after the mayor attributed 16 new cases in Borough Park to a large wedding that violated social distancing rules. Borough Park, Williamsburg and Midwood have a significant population of ultra-Orthodox Jewish residents, and their insular religious community has been hard hit by the pandemic, with Hasidic news media reporting that some 700 members died in the early weeks of the virus.

According to the Orthodox press outlet Hamodia, Hatzolah, the volunteer Jewish ambulance service, late last month reported "an increase in cases with more severe symptoms as well as hospitalizations and ICU admissions."

On Tuesday, Chokshi stressed four basic principles that all New Yorkers should follow: 1) wear a face mask 2) social distance at least 6 feet from others 3) wash your hands and 4) stay home if you feel sick.

U.K. Announces New Restrictions As Trump Falsely Claims Virus Does Not Affect Those Under 18

Facing an alarming surge in coronavirus cases, the United Kingdom has announced a new list of restrictions, including bans on indoor sports and a 10 p.m. closing time for pubs, bars and restaurants, that could last as long as six months.

Sports and pubs are considered central to the life of Britons. The new curfew rules for pubs, bars and restaurants were the strictest imposed since the lockdown was lifted in July.

“After six months of restrictions, it would be tempting to hope the threat has faded and seek comfort in the belief that if you have avoided the virus so far then you are somehow immune,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday, according to the Guardian.

He described the U.K. and other European countries, like France and Spain, as being at a "perilous turning point" in the pandemic.

"If we fail to act together now, we not only put others at risk but jeopardize our own futures with the more drastic action that we will inevitably be forced to take," he added.

In addition to the ban on indoor sports, the country will also halt a planned partial return of sports fans to stadiums that had been set to begin in October. Johnson also slashed the size of wedding events from 30 to 15 guests.

The new measures were only the latest sign that European countries see the pandemic as entering a second wave. Last week, a World Health Organization official reported that 300,000 new weekly infections across the continent, exceeding the number reported during the first peak of the crisis in March.

"Although these numbers reflect more comprehensive testing, it also shows alarming rates of transmission across the region," Hans Kluge, the WHO director for Europe told reporters.

On Monday, two British government scientists warned that the number of covid cases in the U.K. was doubling about every seven days, and projected 50,000 new daily infections by mid-October if there was no intervention. On Monday, the country reported around 4,300 new cases.

In striking contrast, U.S. President Donald Trump has continued to downplay the impact of the virus as he seeks re-election. Speaking to a crowd of mostly maskless supporters at a rally in Ohio on Monday, he falsely said that the virus does not hurt those under 18.

“It affects elderly people, elderly people with heart problems and other problems. That’s what it really affects,” the president said. “In some states, thousands of people — nobody young. Below the age of 18, like, nobody. They have a strong immune system, who knows? Take your hat off to the young, because they have a hell of an immune system. But it affects virtually nobody. It’s an amazing thing.”

He later added: "By the way, open your schools."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been more than 408,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 88 deaths among Americans under 18. On Tuesday, the New York Times reported on how virus reporting in schools across the country has been uneven, with no federal effort to monitor infections. But one independent source has counted more than 21,000 cases to date in the current school year. New York City has at least 61 known coronavirus cases among teachers and staff.

The U.S. now has more than 6.7 million cases, the most of any country in the world, and nearly 200,000 deaths from the virus.

After initially declining in mid-September, the number of new daily cases has risen to around 40,000.