NHL reports fourth consecutive week of no Covid-19 cases
From CNN's Cesar Marin
The Vegas Golden Knights skate in warm-ups under team promotional signs prior to the game against the Vancouver Canucks in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 23, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images
The National Hockey League announced that for a fourth straight week it had no positive test results for Covid-19.
According to the league, 4,644 tests were conducted during the past week inside the league’s two hub cities of Toronto and Edmonton.
Every member of each team’s traveling party was tested on a daily basis between Aug. 16 and Aug. 22. Since entering its two hub city “bubbles,” the league has not returned a positive test from any of the teams participating in the NHL’s return to play.
The NHL season resumed with 24 teams participating and has now progressed to the Stanley Cup Playoffs with eight teams still competing.
The last time there was a positive test in the NHL was during the two-week period of Phase 3, when there were two positive results (both occurring between July 13-17) among 6,874 tests.
2:43 p.m. ET, August 24, 2020
Louisiana won't open state-run shelters ahead of storms because of Covid-19, governor says
From CNN's Chandler Thornton
Workers board up windows in the French Quarter in anticipation of Hurricane Marco and Tropical storm Laura on August 23, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Both storms are expected to make landfall along the Louisiana coast within days of each other. Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Louisiana's government will not open any state-run shelters ahead of Tropical Storms Marco and Laura, the state's governor said in a press conference Monday.
Gov. John Bel Edwards said they are prepared to open them if needed but "congregate sheltering in Covid really is a last resort."
"That's not to say that we haven't game-planned this and pre-positioned PPE and hand sanitizers and those sorts of things," Edwards said. "We've adjusted the sheltering plan so that we would basically cohort family units and try to achieve as much separation as possible."
"We're encouraging individuals that are able to do so and need to evacuate to go and take shelter in a motel or hotel," the governor added.
2:58 p.m. ET, August 24, 2020
Italy reports more than 6000 new coronavirus cases in the last week
From CNN's Nicola Ruotolo
A medical worker wearing protective gear collects a swab from a person sitting inside a car during Covid-19 tests at the the Santa Maria della Pieta' health center in Rome on August 17, 2020. Riccardo De Luca/AP
Italy has registered 953 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Civil protection. In the past week Italy has seen an increase of over 6000 cases, the highest since the period of May 11-17.
The country has had a total of 260,298 cases and 35,441 deaths. The Italian intensive care units are currently treating 65 Covid-19 patients, 6 less than yesterday.
12:58 p.m. ET, August 24, 2020
Notre Dame reports an additional 50 cases of Covid-19 over the weekend
The Main Building on the campus of Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. Nova Safo/AFP/Getty Images
The University of Notre Dame added a total of 50 additional cases of Covid-19 over the weekend. 20 additional cases were reported Saturday, 30 were reported Sunday. The total case count for the school now stands at 448 cases.
Undergraduate classes are currently being conducted entirely online after the school announced last week it would move to all remote learning for two weeks.
12:43 p.m. ET, August 24, 2020
Usain Bolt says he's self-isolating while awaiting Covid-19 test results
Olympic legend Usain Bolt says he's self-isolating while awaiting his Covid-19 testing results. The eight-time Olympic champion posted a video on social media on Monday saying he currently has no symptoms. He took the test on Saturday.
12:50 p.m. ET, August 24, 2020
Duke University returns only 12 positives out of more than 4,400 students tested for Covid-19
Duke University's campus in Durham, North Carolina. Sara D. Davis/Getty Images
Twelve students at Duke University tested positive for coronavirus out of a total of 4,497 tests performed for the week of Aug. 15 to 21, the most recent data posted on the school's website shows.
There were an additional 10 cases reported among faculty and staff, out of a total of 531 tests performed during that same time period.
Since Aug. 2, the university has performed a total of 11,398 coronavirus tests among both students, faculty and staff members, and 37 cases total cases have been reported — a positivity rate under .01%.
12:49 p.m. ET, August 24, 2020
Spain's regions tighten safety measures as Covid-19 cases rise
From CNN's Laura Pérez Maestro in Madrid
A health worker speaks to people queuing outside a medical centre to be tested for the novel coronavirus in Santa Coloma de Gramenet, north of Barcelona, on August 10, 2020. Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images
Some of Spain's 17 regions have decided to tighten safety measures in their territory as the number of Covid-19 cases continues to climb.
Madrid: Madrid's regional government's Justice Secretary, Enrique López, asked citizens on Monday to "avoid unnecessary gatherings." "It is not about returning to a confinement that restricts economic activity to the point of cancelling it, what it is about is to avoid unnecessary social interaction as much as possible."
Catalonia: The Catalan President, Quim Torra, said at a press conference Monday that "the next 3 weeks are decisive." He announced that Catalonia is banning gatherings of over 10 people, given that "70% of the contagions happen during social gatherings." He added that the region will be performing 500.000 PCR tests in schools and high schools from September and that classes will be reduced to 20 pupils per class.
Murcia: The government of the Murcia region has banned gathering of over 6 people in both private and public spaces, the region's Health Secretary, Manuel Villegas, announced at a press conference on Monday.
Spain recorded 19,382 new Coronavirus cases since Friday, the Spanish Health Ministry’s data showed on Monday. The total number of cases in Spain has now reached at least 405,436.
The data also shows that at least 34 people died during the weekend due to Covid-19. At least 96 have died in the last seven days.
A total of 28,872 people have died of Coronavirus in Spain to date.
The Director of the Center for Health Emergencies, Fernando Simón, said at a press conference Monday that although the number of cases is increasing, hospital capacity in the country "is at 5.1%."
12:54 p.m. ET, August 24, 2020
Georgia Covid-19 mega-testing site extended to September 11
From CNN's Dianne Gallagher and Lindsay Benson
A coronavirus swab test being performed at a mobile COVID-19 Testing Drive at World Changers Church International on July 18, 2020 in College Park, Georgia. Marcus Ingram/Getty Images
CNN previously reported that the mega-testing site in College Park will run from August 10 until August 26. The Georgia Department of Public Health said at the time that the site would be able to test 5,000 people per day and would offer results within 48 to 72 hours.
12:33 p.m. ET, August 24, 2020
University of Kansas cracks down on 2 fraternities for hosting parties
From CNN’s Jennifer Selva
A view of the the University of Kansas at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, KS. Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
The University of Kansas has issued disciplinary actions against two fraternities for hosting social events this weekend in violation of county and university health guidelines on Covid-19.
According to a letter from University Chancellor Douglas Girod, Kappa Sigma and Phi Kappa Psi have been issued a cease and desist, as well as a 14-day public health ban for the members of the fraternities.
“We will not tolerate selfish and irresponsible behavior that puts the health and safety of our community at risk; that disrespects staff, faculty and students who have worked to prepare our campuses for reopening; that jeopardizes the long-term viability of the university; and that recklessly disregards the authorities of the university, city, and county,” the letter said.
As of last week, Girard said 89 people in the KU community had tested positive out of 7,088 test results.
