VIRUS TODAY: Black Friday shoppers stay home

Here's what's happening Friday with the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S.:

THREE THINGS TO KNOW TODAY

— The coronavirus pandemic kept crowds thin at malls and stores across the country on Black Friday, but a surge in online shopping offered a small beacon of hope for struggling retailers after months of slumping sales and businesses toppling into bankruptcy.

— Some colleges and universities are rethinking plans for next semester as coronavirus cases surge around the country. A growing number of campuses will offer only virtual learning, but others are assessing how they would bring students back, which might mean adjusting testing protocols, introducing new screening systems and eliminating spring breaks to discourage students from traveling to help keep campuses open.

— The Walt Disney Co. has announced plans to lay off 4,000 more workers at its theme parks in California and Florida due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has been limiting attendance at its parks and changing protocols to allow for social distancing.

THE NUMBERS: More than 12.9 million Americans have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, and more than 263,500 deaths have been attributed to the virus since the start of the pandemic. The country is averaging more than 1,650 deaths per day, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

QUOTABLE: “My biggest concern is probably that people will become more relaxed with their individual social distancing/quarantining measures over winter break,” University of Vermont President Suresh Garimella said by email. “I can only hope that people will remember how important these safety measures are, and will continue to practice them for the sake of their health and for the sake of our education.”

ICYMI: Letters pouring by the tens of thousands...