Coronavirus updates: Overnight camping restrictions lifted in Carbon and Emery counties

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

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Today's coronavirus updates:

Thursday, 10:17pm

Somber Congress delivers nearly $500B more in virus aid

Congress delivered a nearly $500 billion infusion of coronavirus spending Thursday, rushing new relief to employers and hospitals buckling under the strain of a pandemic that has claimed almost 50,000 American lives and one in six U.S. jobs. The measure passed almost unanimously, but the lopsided tally belies a potentially bumpier path ahead as battle lines are being formed for much more ambitious future legislation that may prove far more difficult to maneuver through Congress. President Donald Trump is scheduled to sign the bill during a White House ceremony Friday. — Associated Press

Thursday, 08:39pm

Utah bought $800K in controversial drugs weeks ago but health officials didn’t know

Even as Utah health department officials say they’re still in the midst of negotiating a contract to purchase possibly up to 200,000 doses of controversial anti-malaria drugs to treat COVID-19 patients, it’s come to light that state officials in a separate department have already purchased 20,000 doses of the drug. That purchase from Meds in Motion, a Utah pharmacy that has stockpiled the drugs, occurred on March 31 and cost the state $800,000. That’s according to a state invoice obtained by KSL Thursday, which shows the Utah Division of Purchasing and General Services ordered 20,000 medication packs of chloroquine, zinc and hydroxychloroquine at $40 a dose. — Katie McKellar, KSL

Thursday, 07:44pm

Overnight camping restrictions lifted in Carbon and Emery counties

The Southeast Utah Health Department lifted camping restrictions in Carbon and Emery counties on Thursday but emphasized that social distancing should still be maintained. Any pools in the counties in the health district that are mainly used for exercise are also allowed to open under strict guidelines.

Face coverings are required except while swimming

Locker rooms and showers must stay closed

Patrons must shower at home before going to the facility

Only one person per swim lane is allowed

A distance of 10 feet must be maintained between those doing group exercise

Additionally, the amended health order will be in effect until May 1, instead of the original May 4. — Lauren Bennett, KSL.com

Thursday, 04:04pm

Gov. Herbert creates multicultural task force to support Utah minorities hit hard by COVID-19 pandemic

As COVID-19 continues to impact minority groups at a high rate, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert announced on Thursday the creation of a multicultural task force that will serve as a subcommittee to the state’s novel coronavirus community task force. A recent survey by the state’s multicultural division found 10 unique issues faced by these marginalized communities, including technology access, food insecurity, misinformation, housing insecurity, health care access and language/cultural barriers. The new task force is aimed at resolving these specific barriers, Herbert said. — Lauren Bennett, KSL.com

Thursday, 01:05pm

Governor: Antibody survey shows wide exposure to virus in NY

More evidence is emerging that far more New Yorkers have had the coronavirus than the number confirmed by lab tests, officials said Thursday.A state survey of about 3,000 people found that nearly 14% had antibodies, suggesting they had been exposed to the virus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at his daily news briefing.In New York City, the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S., 21% of the people tested had antibodies.Earlier Thursday, New York City's health commissioner said many as 1 million people in New York City may have been exposed to the coronavirus.Read the full story here. — Associated Press

Thursday, 12:59pm

Utah sees 167 new cases of COVID-19

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 167 from Wednesday, with one new reported death, according to the Utah Department of Health. Thursday's totals give Utah 3,612 confirmed cases, with 301 hospitalizations and 35 total deaths from the disease. Previously, there were 3,445 cases in the state. Read the full story here. — Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Thursday, 10:25am

House expected to send 4th coronavirus aid bill to Trump

The House is reassembling to send President Donald Trump a fourth bipartisan bill to help businesses crippled by the coronavirus, an almost $500 billion measure that many lawmakers are already looking beyond. Anchoring the latest bill is a request by the Trump administration to replenish a fund to help small- and medium-size businesses with payroll, rent and other expenses. — Associated Press

Thursday, 09:47am

Gephardt: Insurance companies not paying business interruption claims

Many businesses have an insurance policy that specifically covers business interruption, but as one South Jordan man found out, insurance companies are not paying business interruption claims tied to the coronavirus. Jay Smith, co-owner of Cycle Bar, says he has business insurance and a specific clause that covers “business interruption.” But when Smith filed a claim it was immediately denied, with the insurance company citing “coronavirus did not cause property damage.” “There has to be a triggering event,” said Utah Insurance Commissioner Todd Kiser, “something in time that happens a moment there is a direct, physical, specific loss associated with the claim.” Read the full story here. — Matt Gephardt and Cindy St. Clair, KSL TV

Thursday, 08:44am

COVID-19 survivor hopes plasma donation will help save others

A Davis County man was among the first COVID-19 survivors to donate his plasma to treat those who have been hospitalized with the virus. Doctors from Intermountain Healthcare, and others across the country, have been investigating how helpful plasma treatments might be, as they try to build a pool of donors. “I just felt this desire and need to help out as soon as I could, because of my experience with the virus,” said Matt Newey. “The virus was horrible, and I can’t imagine what people in the hospitals are experiencing (and) having it way worse.” Read the full story here. — Jed Boal, KSL TV

Thursday, 07:36am

Nearly 20K more Utahns filed for unemployment benefits last week

The number of Utahns seeking unemployment benefits increased by nearly 20,000 last week. A total of 19,751 Utahns filed for unemployment last week, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor. In the week of April 5-11, 24,171 people filed for unemployment benefits. The data released Thursday shows the continuing trend of high unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nationally, 4.4 million people filed for unemployment last week, and a total of about 26 million have sought benefits since the pandemic began. — Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Thursday, 07:09am

4.4 million apply for US unemployment benefits

More than 4.4 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week as job cuts escalated across an economy that remains all but shut down, the government said Thursday. Roughly 26 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the five weeks since the coronavirus outbreak began forcing millions of employers to close their doors. About one in six American workers have now lost their jobs since mid-March, by far the worst string of layoffs on record. Economists have forecast that the unemployment rate for April could go as high as 20%. — Associated Press

Thursday, 07:09am

Utah company pivots from snorkels to personal protection equipment

After hitting record lows in sales, a Utah company has found success after finding their snorkels could be converted to N95 masks. When outdoor adventure came to halt because of the coronavirus pandemic, outdoor retailer Wildhorn Outfitters in Draper got innovative. After seeing a shortage of N95 masks, the company found their full face snorkel masks could be adapted as personal protective equipment to help those on the front lines of the virus, a move other countries were already making. — Felicia Martinez, KSL TV

Thursday, 06:49am

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

The Utah Department of Health reported 149 new COVID-19 cases in the state Wednesday with two new reported deaths.

On Wednesday, Gov. Gary Herbert announced the state will begin using the “Healthy Together” app to help track COVID-19 symptoms and help health officials slow the spread of the virus.

Utah health officials issued a public health order on Tuesday that allows hospitals and physicians to resume some elective surgeries.

A total of 14 inmates have tested positive for the coronavirus while in the Salt Lake County Jail, the sheriff’s office said Wednesday.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued a call for the country’s national parks to reopen, including Utah’s Mighty Five that were shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read all of Wednesday's coronavirus coverage here.

Coronavirus updates: Overnight camping restrictions lifted in Carbon and Emery counties

Updated - April 23, 2020 at 10:20 p.m. | Posted - April 23, 2020 at 7:09 a.m.

Today's coronavirus updates:

Coronavirus updates: Get the latest on COVID-19 here

Somber Congress delivers nearly $500B more in virus aid

Utah bought $800K in controversial drugs weeks ago but health officials didn’t know

Overnight camping restrictions lifted in Carbon and Emery counties

Gov. Herbert creates multicultural task force to support Utah minorities hit hard by COVID-19 pandemic

Governor: Antibody survey shows wide exposure to virus in NY

Utah sees 167 new cases of COVID-19

House expected to send 4th coronavirus aid bill to Trump

Gephardt: Insurance companies not paying business interruption claims

COVID-19 survivor hopes plasma donation will help save others

Nearly 20K more Utahns filed for unemployment benefits last week

4.4 million apply for US unemployment benefits

Utah company pivots from snorkels to personal protection equipment

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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