Coronavirus updates: Utah's 'Mighty 5' national parks all closed indefinitely

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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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 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, 08:22pm

Vivint Arena turns on lights for #LightItBlue movement

SALT LAKE CITY — Vivint Smart Home Arena’s usual hues of orange, yellow and purple has gone blue — at least for one night. The home of the NBA’s Utah Jazz was lit up in blue Thursday as part of the Light It Blue effort, a national demonstration of support for healthcare and frontline workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Arena officials turned the lights on at 8 p.m. MT and will keep them going throughout the night, similar to other arts organizations, landmarks and other venues around the country. The building’s marquee and video screens will also flash, “Thank you to all those fighting on the front lines against COVID-19!” Read the full story here.

Thursday, 05:10pm

UFC 249 canceled after ESPN, Disney halt promotion's plans

UFC 249 was canceled Thursday after ESPN and parent company Disney stopped UFC President Dana White's plan to keep fighting amid the coronavirus pandemic. After defiantly vowing for weeks to maintain a regular schedule of fights while the rest of the sports world halted, White announced the decision to cease competition on ESPN, the UFC's broadcast partner. UFC 249 was scheduled for April 18 on ESPN Plus pay-per-view, and White planned to follow it with weekly fight cards from Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino on tribal land in California's Central Valley. — Associated Press

Thursday, 02:40pm

Capitol Reef National Park announces its closure due to coronavirus

The last of Utah’s Mighty Five National Parks announced it is closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with no visitors allowed to camp or recreate at Capitol Reef. The Cathedral Valley Road, Hartnet Road, state Route 24, Notom-Bullfrog Road, and Burr Trail will remain open to pass-through traffic only. ”We have been working closely with Wayne and Garfield County and the state of Utah to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the state’s ‘stay home, stay safe’ order,” park superintendent Sue Fritzke said. “Continued recreational activities in Capitol Reef National Park made it hard to maintain the thresholds needed to ensure a safe visit, which is why this temporary closure is so important,” she added. — Amy Joi O'Donoghue, KSL

Thursday, 02:16pm

Herbert extends Utah 'Stay Home, Stay Safe' directive

Gov. Gary Herbert extended Utah's "Stay Home, Stay Safe" directive through the end of April to slow the spread of COVID-19. The directive, issued on March 27, was originally supposed to last until at least April 13 and instructed Utahns to stay home as much as possible and practice social distancing when in public. Herbert's extension of the directive mirrors that of Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, who extended the county's more stringent stay-at-home order through May 1. — Yvette Cruz, KSL.com

Thursday, 01:53pm

Utah health officials reveal 130 new COVID-19 cases

The Utah Health Department reported 130 new COVID-19 cases in the state Thursday afternoon, bringing the state's total to 1,976 cases since the coronavirus outbreak began. That cumulative number includes Utahns who have recovered, died or been hospitalized with the disease. Thursday's numbers are a 7.0% increase from Wednesday's numbers. The state has conducted 38,373 tests for COVID-19. Of those, 5.1% have tested positive. Health officials reported a total of 168 hospitalizations and no new deaths. — Yvette Cruz, KSL.com

Thursday, 12:07pm

Mayor Wilson extends Salt Lake County stay-at-home order through May 1

Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson announced she will extend the county’s "Stay Safe, Stay Home" order through May 1. Wilson added that the county had its first positive test at its South Salt Lake resource center. She said the individual was a male over 60 and that the homeless shelter is temporarily not accepting new individuals, but that may change later Thursday. Read the full story here. — Carter Williams, KSL.com

Thursday, 10:18am

Foster families say visiting policies expose them to coronavirus

With social distancing orders in place, the Division of Child and Family Services continues to require in-person visits. It’s putting some foster care families in a complicated situation. “DCFS is just ignoring it, and we need to get on track and take this isolation seriously,” Sheila Stromberg, a former foster parent, told KSL TV. “We’re just going to see more deaths and hospitalizations. It’s incredibly shortsighted and foolish to not prioritize health at this time.” — Brittany Tait, KSL TV

Thursday, 10:17am

UTA’s reduced services raises concerns over crowded buses, trains

The Utah Transit Authority’s recent reduction in services has sparked some concerns that some buses and trains are becoming too crowded to practice social distancing and prevent the spread of the coronavirus. “It’s been a balancing act,” said UTA spokesperson Carl Arky. “It’s not an exact science, so now if we find out that more people are getting on at this stop at this time, we’ll respond and adjust accordingly as we go.” — Matt Rascon, KSL TV

Thursday, 10:16am

Wall Street climbs after Fed stuns markets again with aid

Stocks jumped in early trading on Wall Street Thursday after the Federal Reserve launched its latest unprecedented effort to support the economy through the coronavirus outbreak. The central bank undertook actions to provide up to $2.3 trillion in loans to households, local governments and small and large businesses as the country tips into what economists say may be the worst recession in decades. It’s the latest massive move by the Fed, which has been rushing to ensure cash can get to parts of the economy that need it after lending markets got snarled earlier by a rush among investors to pull cash out of the system. — Associated Press

Thursday, 10:16am

Utah, Idaho farmers dumping milk after drop in demand

When the recommendation first came to stay at home and socially distance to avoid catching and spreading coronavirus, dairy farmers could keep up with demand for milk. Since then, many have been forced to dump their product. While grocery stores limit how much milk and dairy products shoppers can buy, images of farmers forced to dump their milk in Arizona and Wisconsin have been making headlines. The president of Utah Farm Bureau, Ron Gibson, said the same thing is happening in Utah and Idaho, as well. — Garna Mejia, KSL TV

Thursday, 08:20am

33K more Utahns file for unemployment as coronavirus crisis slashes economy

Another 33,076 Utahns filed for unemployment insurance last week as the coronavirus crisis continues its stranglehold on the world economy. That's about 4,500 more than the amount of people who filed claims the week before last, when 28,560 filed unemployment claims in the state, according to the United States Department of Labor. Nationally, 16.6 million people have filed for unemployment benefits since the COVID-19 pandemic began, meaning that about 1 in 10 workers has lost their job. — Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Thursday, 07:04am

Another 6.6 million Americans file for jobless claims

With a startling 6.6 million people seeking jobless benefits last week, the United States has reached a grim landmark: Roughly one in 10 workers have lost their jobs in just the past three weeks. The figures paint a picture of a job market that is quickly unraveling as businesses have shut down across the country because of the coronavirus outbreak. — Associated Press

Thursday, 07:04am

Fed announces $2.3 trillion in additional lending

The Federal Reserve is taking additional steps to provide up to $2.3 trillion in loans to support American households and businesses, as well as local governments, as they deal with the coronavirus. The Fed said Thursday that it is activating a Main Street Lending Program authorized by the $2.3 trillion economic relief bill pass by Congress last month. — Associated Press

Thursday, 07:04am

New program connects Utah’s elderly and at-risk with people ready to help

In March, 48-year-old computer programmer and Hurricane native Hoang Ha created a website called Neighbors Helping Neighbors, where elderly or immunocompromised people can put in grocery or errand requests. In less than a month, Ha’s website nhelpingn.com amassed 418 volunteers across Utah and fulfilled 362 requests, spanning St. George to Ogden. “It’s really, really reduced our stress,” said Harold Carr, a Salt Lake resident who was one of Ha’s first clients. — Kyle Dunphey, KSL

Thursday, 07:04am

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Gov. Gary Herbert issued a travel declaration order, calling for all adults traveling to Utah to fill out a form asking them if they’ve been tested for COVID-19 and if they’ve recently experienced symptoms.

The Beehive State will likely see its peak in the COVID-19 pandemic begin on Friday, according to University of Utah biostatisticians.

The Utah State Prison is no longer accepting offenders from the Salt Lake County Jail, where at least 6 inmates have coronavirus.

The Utah Department of Health announced 108 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, upping the statewide total to 1,846 overall since the pandemic began. It's a 6.2% increase from Tuesday's numbers.

Intermountain Healthcare launched an Emotional Health Relief Hotline. Anyone experiencing emotional distress relating to COVID-19 can call the hotline at 833-442-2211 free of charge from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Read all of yesterday's coronavirus news here. — Linda Williams, KSL.com

Coronavirus updates: Utah's 'Mighty 5' national parks all closed indefinitely

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - April 9, 2020 at 5:15 p.m. | Posted - April 9, 2020 at 7:04 a.m.

(Natalie Crofts, KSL, File)

What questions do you have about the COVID-19 outbreak?

Vivint Arena turns on lights for #LightItBlue movement

UFC 249 canceled after ESPN, Disney halt promotion's plans

Capitol Reef National Park announces its closure due to coronavirus

Herbert extends Utah 'Stay Home, Stay Safe' directive

Utah health officials reveal 130 new COVID-19 cases

Mayor Wilson extends Salt Lake County stay-at-home order through May 1

Foster families say visiting policies expose them to coronavirus

UTA’s reduced services raises concerns over crowded buses, trains

Wall Street climbs after Fed stuns markets again with aid

Utah, Idaho farmers dumping milk after drop in demand

33K more Utahns file for unemployment as coronavirus crisis slashes economy

Another 6.6 million Americans file for jobless claims

Fed announces $2.3 trillion in additional lending

New program connects Utah’s elderly and at-risk with people ready to help

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Related links

Most recent Utah stories

Related topics

More stories you may be interested in

Utah playing crucial role in Biden administration's plan to expand, modernize electrical grid

Video shows SUV pushing parked car across street and into Orem house

Supreme Court to decide if outright camping bans constitute cruel and unusual punishment

Most Viewed

STAY IN THE KNOW

KSL Weather Forecast