Coronavirus updates: Designated COVID-19 screening sites to be established in Utah

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SALT LAKE CITY — Here are the latest coronavirus-related updates from Utah and around the world.

Utah has its second confirmed case of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, health officials announced Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Italy has enacted strict travel restrictions throughout the entire country to deal with the spread of the virus.

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

Tuesday, 09:13pm

Utah leaders meet with employers to discuss COVID-19 prevention

With two cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Utah, state health officials are turning to business owners to reduce the risk of spread. At an information session on Tuesday, state officials met with business owners and urged them to implement business practices that can help limit the potential spread of the disease in Utah, while still maintaining the state’s economy — practices like creating flexible time-off policies and working with employees to work remotely. Officials want to make sure employees are incentivized to self-isolate, if the time comes. Read the full story here.

Tuesday, 08:20pm

Creation of designated COVID-19 testing sites recommended by Utah task force

Utah’s COVID-19 Task Force recommended that the state’s hospitals and health care facilities work to create “designated sites to screen for novel coronavirus infections.” “We’ve learned from watching coronavirus outbreaks in other locations that it’s absolutely crucial to take steps now to ensure that our health systems can continue functioning, if not normally, at least optimally, as we will likely see more cases of COVID-19 in our state,” Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox said in a statement Tuesday. “Establishing designated screening areas will protect waiting patients and healthcare professionals from infection, and preserve precious resources.” Options for screenings in rural areas of the state were also recommended. The University of Utah Medical Center has started this procedure and other hospitals are expected to establish pre-screening protocols in the near future, according to a news release from the task force. “We know there are a lot of viruses out there that produce symptoms similar to COVID-19,” said Dr. Angela Dunn, state epidemiologist. “The last thing we want is for people to risk getting infected with novel coronavirus when they are actually coming in to get tested. We need to protect patients coming in for screening, we need to protect patients visiting our hospitals for other purposes, and we need to protect the health providers who actually perform the screenings.”

Tuesday, 06:46pm

State officials in discussion with church leaders about COVID-19 impact to general conference

Government officials have been in meetings with leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to discuss potential impacts the novel coronavirus could have on the upcoming April general conference, Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox said at a Tuesday news conference. He was told that leaders would be meeting to further discuss the situation. While a decision about any changes to the conference has not been made, Cox said to “stay tuned" about any possible changes. The lieutenant governor said state officials have also had conversations with other faith leaders about responding to the coronavirus outbreak. The church previously discouraged members from international travel to attend the conference.

Tuesday, 06:41pm

No live audience for Sunday's Democratic debate

The Democratic National Committee announced that the party's next debate, being held Sunday in Arizona, will not have a live audience, “at the request of both campaigns and out of an abundance of caution.”

Tuesday, 06:38pm

Google asks all North America employees to work from home

Google parent company Alphabet is recommending that all of its North America employees work from home through April 10 due to coronavirus, according to an email shown to CNN.While many companies have asked employees in certain cities to work from home or tested out large scale work from home measures, Google is among the first to ask that employees throughout the continent do so.Read the full story here.

Tuesday, 06:37pm

Coachella festival postponed as concerts grapple with virus

The uber-popular Coachella music festival has been postponed from its usual two-weekend run in April to October due to concerns about the growing coronavirus.The festival’s producer Goldenvoice made the announcement Tuesday, also confirming that Stagecoach, a country music festival, will be postponed. Coachella, held in Southern California, will now take place on Oct. 9-11 and Oct. 16-18, while Stagecoach will take place Oct. 23-25.Read the full story here.

Tuesday, 05:00pm

Coronavirus clusters swell on both sides of US; 70 cases tied to Boston conference

Alarming clusters of the coronavirus swelled on both coasts of the U.S. on Tuesday, with 70 cases now tied to a conference held last month by biotech company Biogen at a hotel in downtown Boston. Infections have turned up at 10 nursing homes in hard-hit Washington state.Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency, as cases statewide jumped by 51 from the day before to 92. The state of emergency gives him greater authority to take such actions as shutting down large events, gaining access to buildings or stockpiling protective gear.Read the full story here.

Tuesday, 03:48pm

Trump pitches payroll tax relief to wary lawmakers

President Donald Trump pitched his proposed payroll tax break Tuesday on Capitol Hill as pressure mounts on the administration and Congress to work more vigorously to contain the coronavirus outbreak and respond to the financial fallout.

Tuesday, 03:35pm

Sanders, Biden cancel Ohio rallies over coronavirus concerns

Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden abruptly canceled scheduled rallies Tuesday night in Cleveland amid concerns over the spread of the new coronavirus — as public health fears began transforming the 2020 race.

Tuesday, 03:34pm

National Guard is sent to virus-stricken New York suburb

New York's governor announced Tuesday he is sending the National Guard into a New York City suburb to help fight the nation's biggest known cluster of coronavirus cases, as the battle against the U.S. outbreak intensified.

Tuesday, 01:20pm

Water stored in rain barrels isn't safe from coronavirus, officials say

Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities officials advise against storing drinking water in rain barrels during a coronavirus outbreak. The barrels are not sealed or sanitized and will not be protected from being inundated with the virus, the department said. Drinking water from the tap will be safe to drink in the event of a virus outbreak, officials said.

Tuesday, 01:20pm

University of Utah suspends all international student travel through May 2020

All university-affiliated international travel programs have been suspended through May 2020, the University of Utah announced Monday. That includes all programs that are part of the U.'s Learning Abroad and Office for Global Engagement, as well as international travel programs through the David Eccles School of Business, Eccles Global and Hinckley Institute global internships. Other programs may also be affected. The U.'s full list of coronavirus-related guidelines are available at dps.utah.edu/coronavirus.

Tuesday, 12:13pm

Schools to shut for 2 weeks in NY suburb 'containment area'

Schools, houses of worship and large gathering places will be shuttered for two weeks in a “containment area” centered in suburban New Rochelle, the heart of what appears to be the nation's biggest cluster of cases of the coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday. Read the full story here.

Tuesday, 10:53am

Virus-hit Italy gets more isolated as nations restrict entry

Italians faced travel restrictions inside and outside the country Tuesday as nations near and far isolated Italy with flight bans and sweeping national measures went into effect in a bid to slow the coronavirus’ silent spread across the peninsula. Read the full story here.

Tuesday, 08:36am

Utah's 2nd case of COVID-19 confirmed

Utah has its second case of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, authorities said Tuesday. The patient lives in the Weber-Morgan health district and is older than 60, according to the Utah Department of Health. Read the full story here.

We just announced the 2nd positive case of COVID-19 in the state of Utah. We are working closely with the local health dept. and monitoring closely. Our thoughts are with the family this morning and praying for a speedy recovery.

https://t.co/dbZJWX9ky8

— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) March 10, 2020

Tuesday, 08:36am

Stocks surge on Wall Street following worst day since 2008

Stocks are surging on Wall Street following the market's worst day since the financial crisis of 2008. The Dow jumped nearly 800 points, or 3.3%, making up less than half of its plunge from the day before. Overseas markets were also higher. Read the full story here.

Tuesday, 08:36am

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

The Davis County resident diagnosed with COVID-19 attended Brigham Young University's basketball game against Gonzaga on Feb. 22, according to the Utah County Health Department.

Italy's premier has extended internal travel restrictions imposed in the north to the entire country, The Associated Press reported.

Intermountain Healthcare is enacting tight visitor restrictions as the international crisis surrounding COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, continues.

Fear gripped financial markets around the world Monday as stock prices and bond yields plunge on worries about the effects of a new coronavirus.

Coronavirus updates: Designated COVID-19 screening sites to be established in Utah

By Jacob Klopfenstein for KSL.com | Posted - March 10, 2020 at 9:14 p.m.

(Tanner Siegworth, KSL TV)

Utah leaders meet with employers to discuss COVID-19 prevention

Creation of designated COVID-19 testing sites recommended by Utah task force

State officials in discussion with church leaders about COVID-19 impact to general conference

No live audience for Sunday's Democratic debate

Google asks all North America employees to work from home

Coachella festival postponed as concerts grapple with virus

Coronavirus clusters swell on both sides of US; 70 cases tied to Boston conference

Trump pitches payroll tax relief to wary lawmakers

Sanders, Biden cancel Ohio rallies over coronavirus concerns

National Guard is sent to virus-stricken New York suburb

Water stored in rain barrels isn't safe from coronavirus, officials say

University of Utah suspends all international student travel through May 2020

Schools to shut for 2 weeks in NY suburb 'containment area'

Virus-hit Italy gets more isolated as nations restrict entry

Utah's 2nd case of COVID-19 confirmed

Stocks surge on Wall Street following worst day since 2008

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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Coronavirus updates: Designated COVID-19 screening sites to be established in Utah

By Jacob Klopfenstein for KSL.com | Posted - March 10, 2020 at 9:14 p.m.

(Tanner Siegworth, KSL TV)

Utah leaders meet with employers to discuss COVID-19 prevention

Creation of designated COVID-19 testing sites recommended by Utah task force

State officials in discussion with church leaders about COVID-19 impact to general conference

No live audience for Sunday's Democratic debate

Google asks all North America employees to work from home

Coachella festival postponed as concerts grapple with virus

Coronavirus clusters swell on both sides of US; 70 cases tied to Boston conference

Trump pitches payroll tax relief to wary lawmakers

Sanders, Biden cancel Ohio rallies over coronavirus concerns

National Guard is sent to virus-stricken New York suburb

Water stored in rain barrels isn't safe from coronavirus, officials say

University of Utah suspends all international student travel through May 2020

Schools to shut for 2 weeks in NY suburb 'containment area'

Virus-hit Italy gets more isolated as nations restrict entry

Utah's 2nd case of COVID-19 confirmed

Stocks surge on Wall Street following worst day since 2008

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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