Coronavirus here in the u. S. Amid concern this would happen with Colder Weather and more americans indoors, tonight, the virus now surging in the u. S. New record numbers. Cases on the rise in 38 states. And the news just coming in, reports the third person now in the u. S. Confirmed to have been reinfected. And tonight, what a new Study Suggests about your blood type and the virus. Also tonight, the virus and air travel. Just how risky is it . The new study revealing how much protection you get by wearing a mask while in your seat. And how many people have been infected while flying. News tonight about the grandfather charged in the death of his granddaughter, after her deadly fall from a cruise ship window. What the grandfather says he is now doing, he says to end his familys nightmare. And america strong tonight. The teacher and the gift in her garage. Good evening and its great to have you with us here on a thursday night. Tonight, just 19 days to go until election day. More than 17 million americans voting already. This was supposed to be debate night in america, the second president ial debate. Instead, joe biden right here on abc, taking questions from voters, after President Trump pulled out of the debate because the Debate Commission wanted it to be virtual to protektd against covid. Then late word this week, the president would do his own town hall on another network. President Trump Holding a rally in North Carolina today. North carolina marked the highest number of new cases of coronavirus in a single day since march. He then goes to florida for tonight. Meantime, the stage is set for former Vice President joe biden in philadelphia. He will take questions tonight from voters, socially distanced in the audience, right here on abc. And late word today that Vice President ial candidate Kamala Harris will halt travel for now after two on her team tested positive for covid. We have it all covered tonight and we begin here with abcs mary bruce. Reporter with covid cases on the rise around the country, President Trump today touching down in North Carolina, which just reported its highest single day increase since march. But the president argues everything is getting back to normal. I mean, the people want to get back. The kids want to be back in school. My barron, my tall barron, hes very tall. My beautiful barron, handsome, he is handsome. But my beautiful barron had it, he recovered like so fast. Reporter today, few masks in the president s crowd. On gma, dr. Anthony fauci said thats a big problem. When you have a High Community spread, particularly when people are not wearing masks, is not a good thing. Thats a high risk endeavor. Reporter the president is increasingly attacking fauci, the nations top expert on infectious diseases. He said, this is not a threat, this is not a problem, dont worry about this. Then whats the problem . Its the craziest thing. But hes a nice guy, so i keep him around, right . Well keep him around. Reporter joe biden is to eager highlight his campaigns different approach to the pandemic. Today, aides announcing his running mate, Kamala Harris, is off the campaign trail through this weekend after two people on her team tested positive. Harris had not been in close contact with either of them. Biden himself off the trail today. But trump is ramping up his rallies, spending time in red states he won in 2016. Hello, des moines. Oh, its been a good time. Reporter trumps been pleading with women to support him. Suburban women, will you please like me . Please. Please. I saved your damn neighborhood, okay . Reporter today, he says hes given female voters what they want. You know what women want more than anything else . They want safety, security and they want to be able to have their houses leave me alone, right . The suburban woman. Reporter but four years later, hes still taking shots at his former rival, the first woman nominated by a major party. And they talked about the Glass Ceiling, right . The woman breaking the Glass Ceiling. And it didnt work out that way, the Glass Ceiling broke her. But there will be a woman that breaks the Glass Ceiling, it just wont be hillary. But this is 2020, so, lets get back to the race this time around. Mary bruce live from philadelphia tonight, where joe biden will take questions from voters at the abc news town hall. Mary, as you reported there, the second president ial debate was supposed to be tonight, the president pulling out because he didnt want a virtual debate. Late this week, agreeing to a town hall himself. Reporter david, tonight, we will see an election first. Dueling town halls. Joe biden right here answering voters questions, while the president doing the same at the same time on another network. Despite being up in national polls, joe bidens team is taking nothing for granted. His Campaign Manager tweeting, there is still a long way to go in this campaign and we think this race is far closer than folks on twitter think, like a lot closer. David . All right, mary bruce tonight, mary, thank you. The abc news town hall with joe biden just a short time from now. George stephanopoulos with biden and voters and their questions, thats tonight, 8 00 p. M. Eastern, right here. Certainly, the questions tonight will include handling of the coronavirus, especially with this country now seeing a spike in cases in 38 states now. With the Colder Weather and more people indoors. And tonight, news coming in, a third person in the u. S. Now confirmed to have been reinfected with the virus. And tonight, you can see the red on the map right there, those are the states where cases are rising, as we approach 60,000 cases daily nationwide. Dr. Fauci has said, we need to be around 10,000 cases a day heading into fall to help prevent a second wave. Again, were nearing 60,000 a day. And tonight, news here on your blood type an the virus. Abcs marcus moore from Oklahoma City tonight. Reporter researchers say a man in seattle tonight is the third known person in the u. S. To have been infected twice with coronavirus. The nursing home resident in his 60s spent 40 days in the hospital this spring before testing negative multiple times, only to get sick with covid again five months later. Researchers saying reinfections like this are considered rare. It comes amidst a fall surge. Doctors sounding the alarm. At Integris Health in Oklahoma City, theyve run out of icu beds. Its challenging. Its the same thing over and over again, dealing with very, very sick patients. Its tough for families, its tough for staff, its tough for doctors, its tough for nurses. And people are tired. Reporter cases now climbing in 38 states. Hospitalizations rising in 36. And tonight, the cdc forecasting up to 240,000 deaths by november 7th. With Colder Weather, doctors are seeing more indoor spread. Wisconsins governor is urging people to stay home or wear a mask when going out. This is becoming life and death for folks in the state of wisconsin. Reporter el paso, texas, today tightening restrictions after cases and hospitalizations hit an alltime high. This is an unprecedented amount of new cases which require immediate action in order to slow the spread. Reporter Funeral Homes in el paso preparing for the worst, adding walkin refrigerators that can hold up to 20 bodies each. Its hard to see peoples loved ones passing away and hearing that from the family that they wished they could have been there at their last moment. Reporter in california, Ben Fontanilla is burying his wife sally today. They worked at the same hospital. He wants people to know his wife was devoted to her patients battling covid. I want them to know that it affects everybody, especially those who take care of them in the hospital. Reporter tonight, new Research Suggesting blood type could be associated with covid risk. Type o blood may make a person less likely to be infected and less likely to develop severe illness. Although experts say more research is needed if blood type does make a difference and why. All of it, though, very fascinating. Marcus with us tonight. There is not the first time weve seen a link between blood type and covid19 risk and doctors do warn that type o certainly doesnt mean you cant get infected. They dont want you to have a false sense of security here. Reporter yeah, thats right, david. While type o people people with type o blood seem to be less vulnerable to covid19, a lot more research is needed on this, and doctors are saying, no matter what your blood type is, you have to be vigilant as they try to stop the spread of this virus, david. All right, marcus, thank you. And one more note on this tonight, the virus and its effect on seniors across this country, font and center in this country. Seniors who have fought the virus, others who have had to stay away from their families. Tonight, with the president in florida, a state he narrowly won over hillary clinton, where do seniors stand this time around . This evening, we hear from seniors in the villages in florida, the largest Retirement Community in america. All you need to see are the yard signs there to know this is a polarizing time. Abcs Victor Oquendo from florida tonight. Reporter tonight, in a key part of florida, the signs say it all. President trump is back in the battleground state hes visited more than any other and a mustwin. The voters who could decide it live here, inside central floridas sprawling Retirement Community, the villages. This year, republicans fired up. Democrats are, too. Residents here are well aware that senior scitizens make up 8 of covid19 deaths in the state. David grimes, a Onetime Republican prosecutor, is voting for biden. He says he has little trust in the white house. They say they value life, but they dont value elder life. Reporter but susan morel, a trump supporter, said covid19 was not a concern of hers. To me its a flu. Im almost 70 years old. And am i worried about it . No, im not. Reporter the condition candidates battle for votes have been playing out in real time in florida this week. How many of you have been unable to hug your grandkids in the last seven months . Reporter the president , who took the demographic in 2016, has been trying to shore up support. Bidens agenda would be a catastrophe for florida seniors. Reporter a recent poll of likely voters in florida shows those 65 and older back biden, 55 to 40 over trump. Chris stanley, the head of the villages democratic club, said republicans are making the switch. I have it from anywhere between 5. 5 to 6. 3 that weve peeled off in support. Reporter it doesnt sound like a lot thats a difference in florida. That could win or lose this reporter every resident we spoke with told us theyve already voted by mail. They expect President Trump to win the villages, but the big question is, by how big or small of a margin. David . Victor 0 ren doe. Florida always looms large. Thank you. And with early voting under way across this country and with so much concern over how to vote safely, our partners at five they arty eight have put together that easy to use state by state guide on voting. You can go to abcnews. Com wntvote2020. Now, to the new study tonight on the safety of air travel during this pandemic. United airlines teaming up with the department of defense on a sixmonth study. Gio benitez covers aviation and the results tonight were somewhat reassuring. Reporter tonight, as americans prepare for Holiday Travel in the midst of a pandemic, researchers for the department of defense say masks on a plane seem to make the transmission of a virus unlikely. Using a mannequin simulating breathing and coughing, along with 40 sensors on a plane, the study says with a mask on only 0. 003 of particles actually made their way into another passengers breathing zone. The study, spanning six months onboard united planes, did not simulate whether someone was Walking Around or eating during a flight, a more realworld scenario. Researchers say the planes air filters removed 99. 99 of particles every six minutes. They say the study, which is not yet peer reviewed, is just the beginning. Now we can apply that to somebody standing outside of the bathroom, instead of sitting in the exact seat that we tested. Reporter medical experts are encouraged by the news, but caution the big issue, of course, is its not just the airplane, its the jetways, its all of the other stuff. Reporter and david, in another study last week, researchers looked at more than a billion travelers worldwide this year and they found just 44 cases of potential inflight transmission and that was mostly in the early days of the pandemic, before a mask was required. David . All right, gio benitez tonight. Gio, thank you. Next tonight here, the grandfather and his guilty plea in the tragic death of a toddler aboard a cruise ship. A wrenching turn for a family from indiana tonight. The 18monthold child falling to her death. He is said he did not realize the window was open. Heres erielle reshef. Reporter tonight, the grandfather who lost grip of his 18monthold granddaughter on a cruise ship, making the gutwrenching decision, pleading guilty to negligent homicide in her death, saying he just wants to help end part of this nightmare for his family. Sam anello, holding little Chloe Wiegand when she plummeted from this 11th floor Royal Caribbean cruise ship window in san juan, puerto rico, in july of 2019. To lose our baby this way is just unfathomable. Reporter the toddlers parents standing by her grandfather. Anello always maintaining it was a grave accident, that he didnt realize the ships window was open. I sit here broken. We all sit here broken, but our family is strong and we will stay strong together. Reporter but unreleased Surveillance Video seen by abc news appears to show anelle look through the open window. Anello picks up chloe and they appear to lean over together before she disappears from frame. Tonight, the familys attorney telling abc news, because the plea agreement includes no jail time and no admission of facts, it was decided the plea deal is in the best interests of the family, so that they can close this horrible chapter and turn their focus to mourning chloe. And david, chloes family is suing Royal Caribbean for negligence and while the cruise line is disputing that lawsuit, tonight, they say their thoughts are with chloes family during this difficult time. David . All right, erielle reshef. Erielle, thank you. Tonight, an eighth person has been charged in the alleged terror plot to storm the michigan capital and kidnap governor gretchen whitmer. Higgins was arrested in wisconsin. Hell be extradited to michigan for arraignment. The suspects are allegedly known members of the Militia Group wolverine watchmen. And the Senate Judiciary committee for Supreme Court nominee judge Amy Coney Barrett concluded today. The senators heard from witnesses for and against her appointment. The vote was set for next thursday, despite democrats calls for delay. Republicans vow it will be before election day. And one more note tonight on the economy and the fallout for American Families during this pandemic. 898,000 workers filed new unemployment benefit claims last week. The biggest weekly jump in two months, signaling layoffs are still high. Overall, more than 25 million americans are receiving joshless benefits. When we come back tonight, we are monitoring the new next tonight here, the newest wildfire emergency in the west were following. 34 large fires now burning at this hour. Red flag warnings across several states. Flames forcing dozens of evacuations tonight near redlands, california. And colorados cameron peak fire exploding in sides, now the largest wildfire in Colorado State history. And all of this coming just as noaa reports the warmest september ever on record. When we come back here tonight, the boat explosion. More than a doz to the index of other news tonight and the boat explosion in ft. Lauderdale. Authorities say at least 13 people were injured when the boat they were on burst into flames while heading down a river. 21 people were onboard at the time. Passengers falling into the water. Five tonight hospitalized, two severely injured, were told. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. And tonight, cspan has suspended steve scully. He admitted he lied about his twitter being hacked. The news comes on the day he was supposed to moderate tonights now canceled president ial debate. When we come back on the news tonight, the teacher and th but i cant say i expected this. Because it was easy. To fight these fires, we need funding plain and simple. For this crisis, and for the next one. Prop 15 closes tax loopholes so rich corporations pay their fair share of taxes. So firefighters like me, have what we need to do the job, and to do it right. The big corporations want to keep their tax loopholes. Its what they do. Well, i do what i do. If yould like to help, join me and vote yes on prop 15. Your shoulder seems to be healing nicely. Im sorry baby. I dont want you to play with that. singing twinkle, twinkle little star. How i wonder what you are. How are you doing . Schedule a video visit with your doctor. Kaiser permanente. Thrive. Finally tonight here, america strong. Ever since this pandemic began, we have celebrated our teachers, some going to students homes, keeping theirdy answer, but bringing lessons and supplies. Tonight, the students coming to the teacher after the gift she set up if her garage. We have been celebrating the teachers here. Off we go some going to childrens homes with lesson plans. Hello oh, my goodness. The air hugs. Big, big hug. And the teachers doing zooms, even when technology doesnt always cooperate. Did she leave the call . I think thats true, ms. Westmoreland actually left the call. Can you see me . Yeah. Can you see me . And tonight, in austin, texas, Gilbert Elementary School third grade teacher miss Jennifer Martin turning her garage into a library. The closest library is 15 miles away, so, she opened her own. Children come in socially distanced. Hi, david. Miss martin giving us a tour. Welcome to miss martins neighborhood library. Biography section, fiction, spanish. I knew there was need there. And this amazing number tonight. With her own collection and donations, that library now has 3,000 books. Those books tonight home with abraham, javier, juliana. Hi, david. And miss Martins Library assistant, julia. We needed a library around here and this is perfect. Thankful for her teacher and that library in her garage. Keep the donations coming to miss martin. We love our teachers. The abc town hall with joe biden, 8 00 p. M. Eastern. Good night. But thats tough to do on a fixed income. Id be hit with a tax penalty for moving to another county, so im voting yes on prop 19. It limits property taxes and lets seniors transfer their homes current tax base to another home thats closer to family or medical care. Being closer to family is important to me. How about you . Voting yes on prop 19. A little anxious. I mean, whenever it gets windy like this this late in the summer or early fall. Anxiety running high this afternoon as the Public Safety pourer shut off continues. Power is still out right now for thousands of customers all across the bay area. Good afternoon and thanks for joining us. Im larry biel. Im liz kreutz. Pg e initiated the latest power shut off last night. That total was 9,000 fewer than originally planned due to mitigation efforts and less powerful winds than forecasted in the sierra hills, however, residents there could still see their power shut off. The utilities website shows who is impacted by the shut offs now including 22,000 customers in seven bay area counties. We have Team Coverage today, Spencer Christian will take a look at the winds. Abc 7 News ReporterWayne Freedman is live in the north