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Coronavirus latest: Over 74K new cases in US children since early August, report says

There has been a 21% increase in cases among children since Aug. 6

Last Updated: August 26, 2020, 9:36 AM EDT

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 821,000 people worldwide.

Over 24 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The criteria for diagnosis -- through clinical means or a lab test -- has varied from country-to-country. Still, the actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, many unreported cases and suspicions that some national governments are hiding or downplaying the scope of their outbreaks.

Since the first cases were detected in China in December, the virus has rapidly spread to every continent except Antarctica. The United States has become the worst-affected country, with more than 5.8 million diagnosed cases and at least 179,000 deaths.

Nearly 170 vaccine candidates for COVID-19 are being tracked by the World Health Organization, six of which are in crucial phase three trials.

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Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern. Please refresh this page for updates.
Aug 26, 2020, 9:36 AM EDT

New Zealand reports 5 new cases amid fresh outbreak

New Zealand reported five new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, three of which were locally transmitted.

The other two cases had been imported from abroad and were detected in isolation facilities. The national total of confirmed cases now stands at 1,344, of which 134 are active, according to data published on the New Zealand Ministry of Health’s website.

PHOTO: A man wearing a face mask walks along an empty street during lockdown in Auckland, New Zealand, on Aug. 24, 2020.
A man wearing a face mask walks along an empty street during lockdown in Auckland, New Zealand, on Aug. 24, 2020. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced an extension to the current COVID-19 alert levels as the country hits day 13 of increased restrictions following an outbreak. Auckland will remain in Alert Level 3 until Aug. 30 at 11:59 p.m., while the rest of the country will remain in Alert Level 2.
Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Health officials in New Zealand are trying to control a fresh outbreak there after going 102 days without any local transmission of the novel coronavirus. The new cluster of cases was discovered earlier this month in Auckland, the country’s most populous city, prompting authorities to impose a lockdown in the region and to reschedule national elections.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has extended Auckland’s lockdown, which is now slated to end Sunday night.

Aug 26, 2020, 7:26 AM EDT

Germany says infection abroad has 'markedly increased'

The proportion of people testing positive for COVID-19 in Germany who were likely infected abroad has "markedly increased to 42%," according to the country's public health institute.

That figure hit 45% earlier this year, the highest so far, but then fell steadily to 0.3% in the following weeks as a result of travel restrictions. Since borders have reopened, initially in Europe, the proportion of Germany's cases with a probable place of infection abroad "has increased significantly in recent weeks," the Robert Koch Institute said in Tuesday's daily situation report.

A ship cruises over the river Main with the European Central Bank in the background as the sun rises in Frankfurt, Germany, on Aug. 26, 2020.
Michael Probst/AP

Kosovo, Croatia, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Spain and Romania were most frequently reported as the country of exposure.

"Through consistent prevention and early case identification, transmission and subsequent cases can be greatly reduced," the institute said. "It remains essential that people follow the rules of physical distancing and hygiene and avoid crowds, and that anyone who develops symptoms compatible with COVID-19 be tested immediately. In addition, travelers who stayed in a COVID-19 risk area within 14 days of entry must maintain a 14-day quarantine unless they have a negative test result."

As of Wednesday, Germany had reported 236,429 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 9,280 deaths. There were 1,567 new cases recorded in the past 24 hours, according to the latest data from the Robert Koch Institute.

Aug 26, 2020, 6:20 AM EDT

Arizona State University reports 161 cases

Arizona State University said it has 161 known cases of COVID-19 among its students and staff.

"Please keep in mind this number includes students and employees across our four metropolitan campuses and includes students living on and off campus throughout the broader community," Arizona State University president Michael Crow said in a statement Tuesday night. "I know there has been and will continue to be interest in this number. What I am committing to are regular updates about our COVID management strategy."

Since Aug. 1, the public research university has collected test results from 32,729 students and employees so far, according to Crow.

Crow also released clarification on the school’s coronavirus-related policies, including a no-visitor policy in the residence halls, a face covering requirement in all of the university’s buildings and outdoors spaces at all times (except when eating), and the barring of social gatherings among students on or off campus that don’t adhere to public health protocols.

Aug 26, 2020, 5:43 AM EDT

HHS comments on CDC’s updated testing guidelines

ABC News contacted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday night inquiring about the updates to its COVID-19 testing guidelines, what evidence exists to justify the changes and whether the agency can address concerns from the public that this was done for political reasons to reduce case numbers.

But the answer that came back was from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, not the CDC.

"CDC recommends the decision to be tested should be one made in collaboration with public health officials or your health care provider based on individual circumstances and the status of community spread," an HHS spokesperson told ABC News in an email. "The Guidance fully supports public health surveillance testing, done in a proactive way through federal, state, and local public health officials."

The HHS spokesperson listed the following as bullet points on the intent of the CDC’s updated guidance: "Ensure testing is used appropriately and individuals are protecting themselves and others; Place an emphasis on testing individuals for both clinical and/or public health reasons, including the testing of asymptomatic people when directed by public health leaders or health care providers; Emphasize how negative tests should be interpreted, and how they should (and should not) be acted on."

The White House declined to comment on whether the president or any administration staff was involved with or had any communications with the CDC or HHS about the updated guidelines.

ABC News’ Anne Flaherty and Ben Gittleson contributed to this report.

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