Coronavirus updates: Utah airports to get $97 million in federal funding

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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.

Tuesday, 07:53pm

Research groups testing wastewater to estimate novel coronavirus infections in a community

Research groups worldwide have started testing wastewater as a way to estimate the number of coronavirus infections in a community—given that most people will not be tested. The method could also be used to detect the virus if it returns.https://t.co/UspBzlJTVH

— Utah DEQ (@UtahDEQ) April 15, 2020

Tuesday, 07:39pm

Utah airports to get $97 million in federal funding

The U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding about $10 billion to airports across the nation, in light of the decrease in services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 40 airports in Utah will receive funding, including $82 million to the Salt Lake City International Airport and $1.4 million to the Provo Airport. In all, Utah airports will receive more than $97 million in federal funding, from Logan to St. George. The money comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES Act Airport Grant Program. The funding will aid continuing operations and replace lost revenue from declining air travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said in a news release. — Lauren Bennett, KSL.com

Tuesday, 05:47pm

No hugs or handshakes: Pandemic complicates storm relief

For people who lost homes to the deadly tornadoes that rampaged across the South, there are no comforting hugs from volunteers or handshakes from politicians. For homeless families, there are no Red Cross shelters, only hotel rooms. These and other changes reflect how disaster response has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic: Workers are still trying to provide all the help they can, but from a distance. Within hours of the tornado onslaught, which began Sunday and killed more than 30 people, church groups were out in damaged communities, and Southern Baptist volunteers were told to avoid holding hands with people as they prayed, said Sam Porter, director of disaster relief for the nearly 15 million-member denomination. Hugs also are out. — Associated Press

Tuesday, 05:22pm

4 Utah County Sheriff’s deputies self-isolating after being exposed to COVID-19 on duty

Four Utah County Sheriff’s deputies are self-isolating after being exposed to COVID-19 while on duty. Three deputies were exposed to a man during arrest who later tested positive, officials said in a statement on Tuesday. The fourth deputy was exposed on Monday during a traffic stop.  The deputies are self-isolating and will not be allowed to return to work until they test negative for COVID-19, authorities said. Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith emphasized to the public that deputies are continuing to serve the public even during the novel coronavirus pandemic. In a statement, sheriff’s officials also noted all law enforcement face risks everyday even outside of a global pandemic. — Lauren Bennett, KSL.com

Tuesday, 04:25pm

Trump halts funding to World Health Organization

President Donald Trump says he has directed a halt to U.S. payments to the World Health Organization pending a review of its warnings about the coronavirus and China. Trump says the outbreak could have been contained at its source and spared lives had the U.N. health agency done a better job investigating reports coming out of China. The president says the world depends on the World Health Organization to work with countries to make sure accurate information about health threats are shared in a timely manner. Trump claims the organization failed to carry out its “basic duty” and must be held accountable. But Trump says the U.S. will continue to engage with the organization in pursuit of what he calls meaningful reforms. — Associated Press

Tuesday, 04:06pm

University of Utah waives online course fees for summer classes

The University of Utah has waived all online course fees for summer classes in amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, the school announced Tuesday. The courses will also be offered at the in-state rate and any tuition increases have been postponed to 2021. — Lauren Bennett, KSL.com

Tuesday, 03:31pm

Weber-Morgan Health Department, Wasatch County extend health directives through May 1

Weber, Morgan and Wasatch counties' health directives have been extended through May 1, officials announced Tuesday. The Weber-Morgan health district has 105 cases of COVID-19 with 34 recovered and 1 dead. More than 3,000 people in the area have been tested. Wasatch County also extended its stay-at-home health order through May 1. "Staying the course with this order will continue distancing practices that are proving to be effective,” Health Director Randall Probst said in a statement. "Over the next two weeks, we will be working with local businesses to identify best practices and personal protective materials needed to be ready to open back up in a reasonably safe manner in an ongoing COVID-19 environment.” Wasatch County has 102 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 9 hospitalizations, according to the Utah Department of Health. The counties' extension comes a few days after Gov. Gary Herbert extended the state's health "stay safe, stay home" directive to May 1 as well. — Lauren Bennett, KSL.com

Tuesday, 03:20pm

To aid pandemic response, Utah Valley University loans 5 ventilators to hospital

Ventilators usually used to teach and train students were donated by Utah Valley University to Utah Valley Hospital to prepare for COVID-19 patient needs, the school announced Tuesday. “The ventilators in question are identical to the ones used in the hospital intensive care units,” said Max Eskelson, director of UVU’s respiratory therapy program, in a statement. “They give students hands-on experience so they will become skilled and comfortable with the types of equipment they will manage as a respiratory care professional.” To make sure the hospital doesn’t run out of necessary supplies to treat COVID-19 patients, it had reached out to Utah Fire and Rescue Academy to see if any ventilators were available. The academy did not have any and UVU stepped in to loan their machines, which are currently not in use by students due to the university’s new remote policy, to the hospital. “It doesn’t make sense to let our ventilators sit idle when they are in short supply around the nation,” said David McEntire, dean of UVU’s College of Health and Public Service, in a statement. “The health and medical professions in the state and in Utah County have been very supportive of our nursing, respiratory therapy, and public and community health programs. So this is a small way that we can give back.” — Lauren Bennett, KSL.com

Tuesday, 03:02pm

Utah public, charter schools to continue 'soft closure' through end of school year

Utah’s public and charter schools will finish the school year through remote learning. The state’s “soft closure” of public schools will be extended for the remainder of the year, Gov. Gary Herbert announced Tuesday. The last day of classes ranges from May 21 to June 5 among Utah’s public school districts and the final day of classes among Utah’s charter schools ranges from May 13 to June 5. "This was not an easy decision to make," Herbert said from the Utah Capitol during a press video conference meeting with reporters. The governor was joined by Sydnee Dickson, Utah's superintendent of public instruction, to discuss the state's public and charter schools plan for the remainder of the school year. — Carter Williams, KSL.com

Tuesday, 03:02pm

Utah sees 49 new cases of COVID-19, 1 new death

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 49 from Monday, with one new reported death, according to the Utah Department of Health. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert remained optimistic Tuesday despite announcing that in-person instruction at public and charter schools in the state will be cancelled for the rest of the year. Herbert said the trends show that Utah is effectively limiting the spread of the virus, and the state is doing well with its pandemic compared to other states. "We continue to battle COVID-19," he said. "It’s a battle that’s acute, but I think the numbers show that we’re winning." — Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Tuesday, 03:02pm

New Trump panel to explore path to reopening US economy

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he’s enlisting advisers from business, the medical field and elected office to join a new council that will help shape his plans to reopen the coronavirus-battered economy. The panel will operate separately from the White House task force that’s leading the administration’s public health strategy to contain and mitigate the pandemic, though there is expected to be some overlap. — Associated Press

Tuesday, 03:02pm

Intermountain Healthcare creating thousands of face shields to protect medical workers statewide

We’ve seen a lot of ingenuity in our community to meet the demand for personal protective equipment worn by health care workers during the COVID-19 crisis. Intermountain Healthcare is now manufacturing face shields to be shared with hospitals across the state. These are the large clear plastic face shields health care workers wear on the outside of their medical masks when treating people for COVID-19. “There weren’t enough in the market, so, what can we do about that?” asked Scott Schofield, director of supply chain services at Intermountain Healthcare. — Jed Boal, KSL TV

Tuesday, 03:02pm

AT&T picking up wireless tab for healthcare workers

While the people on the front lines in the fight against the novel coronavirus undoubtedly have many worries, their cellphone bills will no longer be one of them. AT&T is providing three months of free wireless service through its FirstNet network to health care workers dealing with the coronavirus response in the United States, the company announced this week. "They are working around the clock, on the frontlines to combat the COVID-19 health crisis," AT&T Communications CEO Jeff McElfresh said in a news release. "We want to be there to keep them connected. And that's exactly what FirstNet delivers." — Ryan Miller, KSL.com

Tuesday, 03:01pm

Fauci: 'We're not there yet' on key steps to reopen economy

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious disease expert, said Tuesday the U.S. does not yet have the critical testing and tracing procedures needed to begin reopening the nation's economy, adding a dose of caution to increasingly optimistic projections from the White House. “We have to have something in place that is efficient and that we can rely on, and we’re not there yet,” Fauci said in an interview with The Associated Press. — Associated Press

Tuesday, 03:01pm

BYU Ultimate frisbee team finds unique silver lining to shortened season

Many collegiate teams around the country are struggling to come to grips with a pandemic-shortened season that has them asking what could have been. On the campus of Brigham Young University, the men’s Ultimate frisbee club team, ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation, has found a unique silver lining to seeing its season end prematurely. After one of BYU’s most impressive regular seasons in its history, the team is receiving some long overdue recognition. With every team in the same position of having its season come to a close before sectional tournaments, the Cougars are being judged on the same playing field as the rest of the D-I teams. — Ty Bianucci, KSL.com

Tuesday, 10:40am

US clears first saliva test to help diagnose new virus

Rutgers University researchers have received U.S. government clearance for the first saliva test to help diagnose COVID-19, a new approach that could help expand testing options and reduce risks of infection for health care workers. The Food and Drug Administration authorized the test under its emergency powers to quickly clear new tests and therapies to fight the outbreak, the New Jersey university said Monday. The test initially will be available through hospitals and clinics affiliated with the school. The announcement comes as communities across the U.S. continue to struggle with testing to help track and contain the coronavirus. — Associated Press

Tuesday, 10:40am

Major League Soccer 'extremely unlikely' to resume play by mid-May

That May 10 restart date for Real Salt Lake and the rest of Major League Soccer? Don’t count on it, the league says. MLS is “extremely unlikely” to resume in mid-May from the suspension caused by the impact of the novel coronavirus, according to a statement released Tuesday from MLS headquarters in New York. — Sean Walker, KSL.com

Tuesday, 10:01am

BYU continuing remote learning for summer classes

Brigham Young University will continue remote and online learning for summer classes, according to a news release. All BYU classes will be offered through remote learning only.

In a continued effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, today we're announcing Summer Term 2020 classes will be offered only via remote instruction. It was previously announced that Spring Term classes would proceed remotely. Details: https://t.co/kspyzu7tzb pic.twitter.com/rsUL18FQcc
— BYU (@BYU) April 14, 2020

— Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Tuesday, 09:25am

Stocks rise as traders see hopeful signs in fighting virus

Stocks are opening higher on Wall Street Tuesday as traders gingerly embrace early signs that the White House and a number of state governors are considering how to gradually reopen the economy. Big companies also started reporting their first-quarter earnings, giving investors an early peek into how the coronavirus outbreak was affecting their business. Johnson & Johnson rose after beating earnings estimates, even thought the health care giant also had to slash its outlook. JPMorgan Chase rose after setting aside billions of dollars to cover potential losses. — Associated Press

Tuesday, 08:54am

Tour de France called off amid virus, no new dates set

After weeks of holding out hope the Tour de France would be able to go ahead as planned despite the coronavirus pandemic, the world’s most famous cycling race was finally added to the list of sporting events called off. It may still happen this year, but it’s clear the three-week race won’t be starting on June 27 in the Riviera city of Nice as scheduled. French President Emmanuel Macron effectively made that decision in his speech to the nation on Monday when he announced that all public events with large crowds have been canceled until at least mid-July. — Associated Press

Tuesday, 08:26am

Salt Lake City collecting homemade masks from public

Salt Lake City officials are asking for the public's help to collect homemade masks for use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bins will be set up at fire stations around the city to provide a no-contact drop off place for masks, according to a tweet from Mayor Erin Mendenhall. The city will then sort and wash the masks, and will plan to distribute them to first responders, essential employees, vulnerable people, and others, Mendenhall said. For more information, go to slc.gov/mayor/masks.

Help #SLC make masks! 😷 Collection bins will be located outside all @slcfire’s stations for drop off.

The City will collect, sort, wash and inventory masks to distribute to first responders, essential employees, vulnerable ppl, and others.
Info: https://t.co/vfhoT8uUZW #utpol https://t.co/lK1FJJk3wd
— SLC Mayor Erin Mendenhall (@slcmayor) April 14, 2020

— Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Tuesday, 08:08am

University of Utah creates digital archive for coronavirus history

Staff at the J. Willard Marriott Library at the University of Utah have created a new digital archive specifically for preserving moments from the coronavirus pandemic in history. “If you are sitting in rural Utah, or if you’re in a big city, you are being affected by this in some way,” said Jeremy Myntti, head of digital services at the Marriott Library. He’s overseeing the effort to preserve this unprecedented time in the state, nation and world. — Matt Rascon, KSL TV

Tuesday, 08:07am

Utah Food Bank and volunteers rally to meet explosion in need with logistical restrictions

When T. Wilson looks at the hundreds of cars lined up waiting to pick up food for the week from one of the Utah Food Bank’s mobile distribution sites, he doesn’t feel sad or overwhelmed. He feels grateful. “I’ve been so touched and so moved by all the volunteers who’ve shown up to help,” said Wilson, a 68-year-old West Jordan man who volunteers to help distribute food in the parking lot of a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Taylorsville. “A number of people have come through in tears. You can tell they didn’t know where they were going to get food for tomorrow, and they’re just so relieved and grateful.” — Amy Donaldson, KSL

Tuesday, 07:01am

New Trump panel to explore path to reopening US economy

Every day, a team of public health officials turns up in the White House briefing room to lay out measures being taken to contain the coronavirus pandemic. A different team, expected to be formally announced as early as today, has begun meeting behind closed doors in the West Wing to tackle another matter: how to begin reopening the American economy. The council, which is not expected to include health officials, could bring to the forefront the push-pull tensions within the White House between economists and public health officials over how quickly to reopen the economy vs. proceeding cautiously to ensure the virus doesn’t spike again. — Associated Press

Tuesday, 07:01am

South Salt Lake braces for big financial hit

South Salt Lake's Director of Finance Kyle Kershaw told the city council last week that revenue from sales taxes and utilities is down due to COVID-19. “We are anticipating we could be down anywhere from about $400,000 to $600,000 per month in revenue… It could even be as high as $700,000,” Kershaw said. Because of the projected hit to their finances , the city has stopped some infrastructure projects and will use some of the fund balance they have to get them through. Read the full article here. — Kelli Pierce, KSL NewsRadio

Tuesday, 06:45am

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases increased by 60 Monday, with no new reported deaths, according to the Utah Department of Health.

As of 12:17 p.m. Monday, state officials canceled mobile travel alerts after the messages went to many people who shouldn't have received them.

For people who filed taxes in 2018 or 2019 but did not include direct deposit information, the IRS plans to have a “Get My Payment" app available later this week that will allow them to add their bank information. The app will also allow people to track the status of their payment.

New York’s coronavirus death toll topped 10,000 and the worldwide number of confirmed cases hovered around 2 million on Monday, even as the lack of fresh hot spots globally yielded a ray of optimism and fueled discussions about how some places might begin to reopen.

Read all of yesterday's coronavirus news here.

Coronavirus updates: Utah airports to get $97 million in federal funding

By KSL | Updated - April 14, 2020 at 7:41 p.m. | Posted - April 14, 2020 at 7:02 a.m.

(Steve Griffin, KSL)

Research groups testing wastewater to estimate novel coronavirus infections in a community

Utah airports to get $97 million in federal funding

No hugs or handshakes: Pandemic complicates storm relief

4 Utah County Sheriff’s deputies self-isolating after being exposed to COVID-19 on duty

Trump halts funding to World Health Organization

University of Utah waives online course fees for summer classes

Weber-Morgan Health Department, Wasatch County extend health directives through May 1

To aid pandemic response, Utah Valley University loans 5 ventilators to hospital

Utah public, charter schools to continue 'soft closure' through end of school year

Utah sees 49 new cases of COVID-19, 1 new death

New Trump panel to explore path to reopening US economy

Intermountain Healthcare creating thousands of face shields to protect medical workers statewide

AT&T picking up wireless tab for healthcare workers

Fauci: 'We're not there yet' on key steps to reopen economy

BYU Ultimate frisbee team finds unique silver lining to shortened season

US clears first saliva test to help diagnose new virus

Major League Soccer 'extremely unlikely' to resume play by mid-May

BYU continuing remote learning for summer classes

Stocks rise as traders see hopeful signs in fighting virus

Tour de France called off amid virus, no new dates set

Salt Lake City collecting homemade masks from public

University of Utah creates digital archive for coronavirus history

Utah Food Bank and volunteers rally to meet explosion in need with logistical restrictions

New Trump panel to explore path to reopening US economy

South Salt Lake braces for big financial hit

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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Coronavirus updates: Utah airports to get $97 million in federal funding

By KSL | Updated - April 14, 2020 at 7:41 p.m. | Posted - April 14, 2020 at 7:02 a.m.

(Steve Griffin, KSL)

Research groups testing wastewater to estimate novel coronavirus infections in a community

Utah airports to get $97 million in federal funding

No hugs or handshakes: Pandemic complicates storm relief

4 Utah County Sheriff’s deputies self-isolating after being exposed to COVID-19 on duty

Trump halts funding to World Health Organization

University of Utah waives online course fees for summer classes

Weber-Morgan Health Department, Wasatch County extend health directives through May 1

To aid pandemic response, Utah Valley University loans 5 ventilators to hospital

Utah public, charter schools to continue 'soft closure' through end of school year

Utah sees 49 new cases of COVID-19, 1 new death

New Trump panel to explore path to reopening US economy

Intermountain Healthcare creating thousands of face shields to protect medical workers statewide

AT&T picking up wireless tab for healthcare workers

Fauci: 'We're not there yet' on key steps to reopen economy

BYU Ultimate frisbee team finds unique silver lining to shortened season

US clears first saliva test to help diagnose new virus

Major League Soccer 'extremely unlikely' to resume play by mid-May

BYU continuing remote learning for summer classes

Stocks rise as traders see hopeful signs in fighting virus

Tour de France called off amid virus, no new dates set

Secret Service, Treasury Department warn Utahns about spike in COVID-related scams

Salt Lake City collecting homemade masks from public

University of Utah creates digital archive for coronavirus history

Utah Food Bank and volunteers rally to meet explosion in need with logistical restrictions

New Trump panel to explore path to reopening US economy

South Salt Lake braces for big financial hit

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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