Coronavirus Updates: 249 cases, 5 deaths; Hong Kong man got coronavirus 2nd time, scientists say

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SALT LAKE CITY — Here are the latest updates on the novel coronavirus from Utah, the U.S. and the world.

If you're on a mobile device and can't see the updates below, click here.

Monday, 06:50 pm

Scientists say Hong Kong man got coronavirus a second time

University of Hong Kong scientists claim to have the first evidence of someone being reinfected with the virus that causes COVID-19.Genetic tests revealed that a 33-year-old man returning to Hong Kong from a trip to Spain in mid-August had a different strain of the coronavirus than the one he’d previously been infected with in March, said Dr. Kelvin Kai-Wang To, the microbiologist who led the work.The man had mild symptoms the first time and none the second time; his more recent infection was detected through screening and testing at the Hong Kong airport.— Associated Press

Monday, 05:54 pm

As world grapples with pandemic, schools are the epicenter

The world is settling into a new normal for everyday life amid the coronavirus pandemic: online school classes, intermittent Zoom outages, museums that will only allow about a quarter of their usual visitors.

Just in time for back-to-school, the World Health Organization has updated its guidance for mask-wearing by children, notably saying those 6 to 11 years old should wear them to fight the coronavirus, but that it depends on local factors and other criteria.

The popular video conferencing tool, Zoom, experienced partial outages during the first day of school for thousands of students who are relying on the technology to connect with educators.

An entire fourth grade class in Mississippi has been quarantined after a student and more than half of a school’s fourth grade teachers tested positive for coronavirus, just a few weeks after beginning the school year.

Millions of Mexican school children returned to classes using a system that cobbles together online classes, instruction broadcast on television and radio programming but no in-person classes as of yet.

— Associated Press

Monday, 02:50 pm

249 more COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths reported in Utah Monday

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 249 from Sunday, with five more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.The health department now estimates there are 7,810 active cases of the disease in Utah. The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now at 350, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that time period is now 8.9%.— Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Monday, 11:58 am

Students in Canyons School District return to class

Students in the Canyons School District – the fifth largest district in Utah – are now back in class after five months.More than 33,000 kids are heading back to class after Gov. Gary Herbert put the soft closure in place in March.District officials said students will be returning to school with new social distancing guidelines and masks – as well as fewer people in the buildings due to approximately 20% of those students opting to learn remotely.Extra attention is also being paid to cleaning efforts in buildings and on buses.In addition to the Canyons School District, students in Jordan, Daggett, Granite, Rich County and San Juan districts are returning to school Monday as well.— Morgan Wolfe, KSL TV

Monday, 11:51 am

DeJoy says he won't restore mail-sorting machines

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy refused requests by Democrats on Monday to restore mail-sorting machines or mailboxes removed from service as part of sweeping operational changes at the Postal Service, despite complaints that the changes are causing lasting damage and widespread delays.Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., told DeJoy at a hearing on Capitol Hill that changes imposed by DeJoy this summer have threatened the reliability of mail service in his state and across the country.— Associated Press

Monday, 11:49 am

WHO: Children aged 6-to-11 should wear masks at times, too

Just as millions of children are heading back to school, the World Health Organization says those aged 6 to 11 should wear masks in some cases to help fight the spread of coronavirus.The recommendations presented Monday follow the widespread belief that children under 12 are not considered as likely to propagate the virus as much as adults. Children in general face less severe virus symptoms than do adults, with the elderly the most vulnerable to severe infection and death.Now WHO says decisions about whether children aged 6 to 11 should wear masks should consider factors like whether COVID-19 transmission is widespread in the area where the child lives; the child's ability to safely use a mask; and adult supervision when taking the masks on or off.— Associated Press

Monday, 12:00 am

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus news from yesterday

No new deaths reported Sunday in Utah, 301 new positive tests

Utah parents form ‘pandemic pods’ to solve distance learning challenges

How does coronavirus spread at a concert? Germans do a test

Get all of Sunday's coronavirus headlines here.

Coronavirus Updates: 249 cases, 5 deaths; Hong Kong man got coronavirus 2nd time, scientists say

By KSL Staff | Updated - Aug. 24, 2020 at 7:07 p.m. | Posted - Aug. 24, 2020 at 6:15 a.m.

(Rick Bowmer, AP Photo)

Scientists say Hong Kong man got coronavirus a second time

As world grapples with pandemic, schools are the epicenter

249 more COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths reported in Utah Monday

Students in Canyons School District return to class

DeJoy says he won't restore mail-sorting machines

WHO: Children aged 6-to-11 should wear masks at times, too

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus news from yesterday

Related links

Most recent Coronavirus stories

Related topics

More stories you may be interested in

Vaccine advisers abandon broad COVID-19 shot support

How vulnerable are kids to long COVID?

What to know about the COVID variant that may cause 'razor blade' sore throats

KSL Weather Forecast

Coronavirus Updates: 249 cases, 5 deaths; Hong Kong man got coronavirus 2nd time, scientists say

By KSL Staff | Updated - Aug. 24, 2020 at 7:07 p.m. | Posted - Aug. 24, 2020 at 6:15 a.m.

(Rick Bowmer, AP Photo)

Scientists say Hong Kong man got coronavirus a second time

As world grapples with pandemic, schools are the epicenter

249 more COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths reported in Utah Monday

Students in Canyons School District return to class

DeJoy says he won't restore mail-sorting machines

WHO: Children aged 6-to-11 should wear masks at times, too

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus news from yesterday

Related links

KSL.com coronavirus coverage

Most recent Coronavirus stories

FDA memo links 10 child deaths to COVID vaccines

Moderna says next-generation COVID-19 shot shows strong immune response in patients

Vaccine advisers abandon broad COVID-19 shot support

Related topics

More stories you may be interested in

Vaccine advisers abandon broad COVID-19 shot support

How vulnerable are kids to long COVID?

What to know about the COVID variant that may cause 'razor blade' sore throats

KSL Weather Forecast