Coronavirus updates: FDA loosens blood donation standards

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - April 2, 2020 at 5:20 p.m. | Posted - April 2, 2020 at 7:02 a.m.

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

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

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

Thursday, 05:14pm

Utah state parks encourage responsible recreation

As the state works to stay indoors and away from people, and with weather warming up, many Utahns are flocking outdoors to state parks. On Thursday, Utah State Parks released information on how residents can recreate responsibly in the parks. In Gov. Gary Herbert’s ”Stay Safe, Stay Home” directive, he asked Utahns recreate in their own counties and not travel to other counties to visit state parks.

Exploring Utah’s state parks and recreation areas is a great way to exercise, escape cabin fever, and relieve anxiety and stress. However, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we all must do our part in practicing #ResponsibleRecreation.

Learn more: https://t.co/imvlL1oHsq pic.twitter.com/9nQE3L9nL9

— Utah State Parks (@UtahStateParks) April 2, 2020 However, going to state parks in someone’s area is perfectly fine. Those who want to recreate outdoors in parks must practice social distancing and follow other public health guidelines. Most importantly, anyone who is feeling ill should stay away from parks, officials said. More information on how residents can recreate responsibly in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic is available here. — Lauren Bennett, KSL.com

Thursday, 04:17pm

US FDA loosens blood donation standards amid COVID-19 pandemic

NEW guidance from @US_FDA today on blood donor eligibility to help address the urgent need to #GiveBlood during #COVID19 without compromising the safety of the blood supply.

More: https://t.co/V8dOxjge1n pic.twitter.com/RSW2y96liP

— U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) April 2, 2020

Thursday, 03:17pm

Weber-Morgan health district announces stay-at-home order

Weber and Morgan counties are the latest in Utah to enact a stay-at-home order. All people in those counties are advised to stay safe at home to the greatest extent they are able, according to an order from the Weber-Morgan Health Department. The order is not a shelter-in-place mandate, and people are advised to stay home unless they have essential business. All gatherings of any number of people, except for between those in the same household or family, are prohibited, according to the health order. More information is available at webermorganhealth.org/coronavirus. — Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Thursday, 03:17pm

'Roller coaster of different emotions': BYU commits describe how church missions were cut short for coronavirus

As thousands of missionaries in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints return home, several missionaries are wondering what’s next — and if it compares to what they’ve gone through in seeing their normally two-year service cut short. — Sean Walker, KSL.com

Thursday, 03:17pm

Here's how Utah plans to test everyone who needs it for COVID-19

Gov. Gary Herbert announced a plan Thursday afternoon to "test Utah" for COVID-19. The plan — a partnership between the state and Utah's tech community Silicon Slopes — will include launching an online assessment, setting up new testing facilities, and doubling the state's daily testing capacity. The goal of the #TestUtahChallenge, as it will be known, is to test everyone in Utah who needs it. — Liesl Nielsen, KSL.com

Thursday, 03:17pm

FDA authorizes first coronavirus antibody test

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued its first emergency use authorization for a coronavirus test that looks for antibodies in the blood. That type of test, called a serology test, would be able to identify past coronavirus infections, although it may be less effective at identifying recent ones. The authorized test, from a manufacturer called Cellex Inc., requires blood to be collected through a vein, and the test itself can only be performed in a certified lab. — CNN

Thursday, 02:37pm

DWR to close shooting ranges due to COVID-19 concerns

Two public shooting ranges operated by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will be closed until further notice beginning Friday, officials said Thursday. The Lee Kay Public Shooting Range in the western part of Salt Lake City and the Cache Valley Public Shooting Range in Logan will both be closed. The division announced some Lee Kay Public Shooting Range closures last week that were related to damage to the facility caused by last month's 5.7 magnitude earthquake. “We recognize that Utahns need spaces to enjoy outdoor recreation at this time. However, it was becoming increasingly difficult to enforce the health recommendations, and we had some visitors who were not adhering to social distancing guidelines at our facilities," DWR Hunter Education Coordinator Gary Cook said, in a prepared statement. "Our main priority is to keep our staff, volunteers and others safe — we are committed to following the recommendations from health officials and other government leaders.” — Carter Williams, KSL.com

Thursday, 01:09pm

Utah up to 1,074 COVID-19 cases

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 62 from the day before, with no new reported deaths, according to the Utah Department of Health. Thursday's totals give Utah 1,074 confirmed cases, with seven total deaths from the disease. Previously, there were 1,012 cases in the state. The new numbers indicate a 6.1% increase in positive cases since yesterday, and about 5% of those tested have the virus. So far, 21,065 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Utah. — Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Thursday, 12:05pm

Salt Lake County authorizes $1M to buy medical protective equipment

Salt Lake County has authorized $1 million to buy medical personal protective equipment for the area's hospitals, Mayor Jenny Wilson said Thursday. The money will go toward masks, ventilators and other medical equipment that will protect healthcare workers and treat patients, she said. The county is still not getting the amounts of medical equipment needed to respond to the coronavirus crisis, Wilson added. However, the county is seeing evidence that social distancing measures are effective. Projections indicate that if there were no social restrictions put in place, the county would have hit nearly 500 cases of COVID-19 by March 18, nearly two weeks ago, according to data shared at a Thursday press conference. Presently, there are 449 cases in the county, according to the Utah Department of Health. Thursday, Wilson again called for a statewide stay-at-home order, which she said would help ease the burden for rural areas that might not have as many resources as areas on the Wasatch Front. “By social distancing and staying at home, we will reduce our future crisis," she said. — Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Thursday, 11:59am

Salt Lake County jail inmate tests positive for COVID-19

A Salt Lake County jail inmate has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Sheriff Rosie Rivera. The inmate has been quarantined, she said. Fifty-one other people who may have been around the inmate also are now quarantined in the adult detention center at the jail, Rivera said. Jail staffers planned for the possibility of an outbreak in the jail and have the space necessary to quarantine anyone affected, Rivera said. More details about the inmate will be released Thursday afternoon. Rivera added that no citations or warnings have been given for noncompliance with Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson's stay-at-home order. Law enforcement personnel are primarily educating people about the order and asking for voluntary compliance. — Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Thursday, 10:22am

Democrats delay nominating convention until week of Aug. 17

The Democratic National Committee is delaying its presidential nominating convention until the week of Aug. 17 after prospective nominee Joe Biden said he didn't think it would be possible to hold a normal convention in mid-July because of the coronavirus pandemic. Convention CEO Joe Solmonese confirmed the decision in a statement Thursday. “In our current climate of uncertainty, we believe the smartest approach is to take additional time to monitor how this situation unfolds so we can best position our party for a safe and successful convention,” Solmonese said. — Associated Press

Thursday, 10:21am

28K more Utahns file for unemployment as coronavirus elevates jobless rate

Over 28,000 more Utahns filed unemployment claims last week as jobless rates continue to skyrocket nationwide amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 28,560 people in Utah filed initial claims for unemployment from March 22-28, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. That’s up nearly 9,000 from last week, when 19,690 filed claims, the department reported. The state has seen almost as many claims filed for unemployment benefits over the last two weeks than were filed in all of 2019. — Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Thursday, 10:20am

Local hikers: More people outdoors, trails getting trashed

Local hikers said they have seen a lot more people heading outdoors due to the coronavirus, but not all of them have been following the rules, leaving behind lots of trash and animal waste. Hiking has always been Jake Poulson’s way to get away from it all. He said lately he’s noticed a lot more people out hiking too. “My family and I, we’ve been hiking every day,” he said. “I would encourage people to get out.” — Alex Cabrero, KSL TV

Thursday, 10:20am

‘It was pretty rough,’ Rep. McAdams tells ‘Today’ show about COVID-19 hospitalization

Utah Rep. Ben McAdams said on national TV Thursday he never expected to be hospitalized for eight days with the new coronavirus — so weak at times he couldn’t hold a telephone to talk to his family — and urged all Americans to avoid going out in public, even if they aren’t under a stay-at-home order. He called for every state to look at a mandatory shutdown and told the “Today” show audience in an early morning appearance from his Utah home that they need to take the deadly virus seriously and stay home to protect themselves and others. — Lisa Riley Roche, KSL

Thursday, 10:18am

More evidence indicates healthy people can spread virus

Scientists offered more evidence Wednesday that the coronavirus is spread by seemingly healthy people who show no clear symptoms, and the federal government issued new guidance warning that anyone exposed to the disease can be considered a carrier. A study by researchers in Singapore became the latest to estimate that somewhere around 10% of new infections may be sparked by people who carry the virus but have not yet suffered its flu-like symptoms. — Associated Press

Thursday, 10:18am

Utah GOP members of Congress seek royalty payment waiver for oil, gas industries

Two Utah Republicans in Congress took the lead in a letter Wednesday urging the Interior Department to waive or reduce federal royalty payments on oil, gas and coal production on federal lands to help those industries survive the coronavirus pandemic. Rep. John Curtis, along with Rep. Rob Bishop and 28 other Republicans, asked Interior Secretary David Bernhardt to strongly consider efforts to ensure those operations have the appropriate resources and certainty afforded other industries during the crisis. — Dennis Romboy, KSL

Thursday, 10:17am

Despite coronavirus, earthquake, officials still closing homeless overflow shelters April 15

March was a brutal month for Utah’s homeless system. But there’s still another hurdle ahead. First the global coronavirus pandemic complicated all efforts related to homelessness. Then an earthquake rendered the Rescue Mission’s downtown building uninhabitable for months. All that hasn’t stopped the clock from ticking, and a deadline is fast approaching to shutter the 150-bed Sugar House temporary shelter and the 58-mat winter overflow at St. Vincent de Paul’s dining hall. City and county leaders say they’re still planning to shut down both winter overflow shelters on April 15. As of Wednesday, that deadline was less than 15 days away, but officials didn’t have a plan in place yet to house any who may have nowhere else to go once the facilities shut down. But they say they’re working on it, and they’ll have a plan soon. — Katie McKellar, KSL

Thursday, 07:02am

A record 6.6 million Americans seek jobless aid

More than 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, far exceeding a record high set just last week, a sign that layoffs are accelerating in the midst of the coronavirus. The figure for last week is much higher than the previous record of 3.3 million reported for the previous week. Many economists envision as many as 20 million lost jobs by the end of April. Read the full story here. — Associated Press

Wednesday, 09:42pm

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases has increased to 1,012, the Utah Department of Health confirmed Tuesday. Two more deaths were also reported, bringing the total to seven.

As the novel coronavirus continues to spread globally, University of Utah biomedical engineers are working to identify the role mucus plays in spreading COVID-19 from person to person.

New York authorities rushed to bring in an army of medical volunteers Wednesday as the statewide death toll from the coronavirus doubled in 72 hours to more than 1,900 and the wail of ambulances in the otherwise eerily quiet streets of the city became the heartbreaking soundtrack of the crisis.

The Grand Canyon closed on Wednesday until further notice, the National Park Service announced, after receiving a request from the local Coconino County (Arizona) Health Department.

Gov. Gary Herbert extended the ban on dine-in options in Utah restaurants until April 15, officials announced on Wednesday.

Read all of yesterday's coronavirus news here.

Coronavirus updates: FDA loosens blood donation standards

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - April 2, 2020 at 5:20 p.m. | Posted - April 2, 2020 at 7:02 a.m.

(Kristin Murphy, KSL, File)

Utah state parks encourage responsible recreation

US FDA loosens blood donation standards amid COVID-19 pandemic

Weber-Morgan health district announces stay-at-home order

'Roller coaster of different emotions': BYU commits describe how church missions were cut short for coronavirus

Here's how Utah plans to test everyone who needs it for COVID-19

FDA authorizes first coronavirus antibody test

DWR to close shooting ranges due to COVID-19 concerns

Utah up to 1,074 COVID-19 cases

Salt Lake County authorizes $1M to buy medical protective equipment

Salt Lake County jail inmate tests positive for COVID-19

Democrats delay nominating convention until week of Aug. 17

28K more Utahns file for unemployment as coronavirus elevates jobless rate

Local hikers: More people outdoors, trails getting trashed

‘It was pretty rough,’ Rep. McAdams tells ‘Today’ show about COVID-19 hospitalization

More evidence indicates healthy people can spread virus

Utah GOP members of Congress seek royalty payment waiver for oil, gas industries

Despite coronavirus, earthquake, officials still closing homeless overflow shelters April 15

A record 6.6 million Americans seek jobless aid

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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Coronavirus updates: FDA loosens blood donation standards

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - April 2, 2020 at 5:20 p.m. | Posted - April 2, 2020 at 7:02 a.m.

(Kristin Murphy, KSL, File)

Utah state parks encourage responsible recreation

US FDA loosens blood donation standards amid COVID-19 pandemic

Weber-Morgan health district announces stay-at-home order

'Roller coaster of different emotions': BYU commits describe how church missions were cut short for coronavirus

Here's how Utah plans to test everyone who needs it for COVID-19

FDA authorizes first coronavirus antibody test

DWR to close shooting ranges due to COVID-19 concerns

Utah up to 1,074 COVID-19 cases

Salt Lake County authorizes $1M to buy medical protective equipment

Salt Lake County jail inmate tests positive for COVID-19

Democrats delay nominating convention until week of Aug. 17

28K more Utahns file for unemployment as coronavirus elevates jobless rate

Local hikers: More people outdoors, trails getting trashed

‘It was pretty rough,’ Rep. McAdams tells ‘Today’ show about COVID-19 hospitalization

More evidence indicates healthy people can spread virus

Utah GOP members of Congress seek royalty payment waiver for oil, gas industries

Despite coronavirus, earthquake, officials still closing homeless overflow shelters April 15

A record 6.6 million Americans seek jobless aid

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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