Coronavirus updates: Trump says COVID-19 task force not dismantling, just refocusing

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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.

Wednesday, 10:16pm

Trump: COVID-19 task force not dismantling, just refocusing

One day after saying that the COVID-19 task force would be winding down, President Donald Trump said Wednesday that it would continue indefinitely, but focus more on rebooting the economy. Trump tweeted that the panel's focus would be on "SAFETY & OPENING UP OUR COUNTRY AGAIN." Trump's reversal comes as deaths and infections rates outside of New York, the epicenter of the coronavirus, are rising even as states move to lift their lockdowns. A White House official acknowledged Wednesday morning that signaling that the task force was preparing to shut down sent the wrong message and created a media maelstrom. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal thinking, said the membership in the task force group would change as the nature of the crisis evolves. — Associated Press

Wednesday, 10:15pm

Mendenhall proposes ‘conservative’ first budget amid pandemic uncertainty

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall as mayor on Tuesday, offering a “conservative” plan amid the uncertain economic times of the global coronavirus pandemic. It was a stark shift from what Mendenhall had originally hoped to do after a year of higher-than-expected revenues stemming from a year of high economic growth. “Now, in the midst of a swift change that has overwhelmed our world, we are fortunate to be in a position where we will not only endure, but evolve as a stronger community post-pandemic,” Mendenhall said in her presentation to the Salt Lake City Council during an online meeting Tuesday. — Katie McKellar, KSL

Wednesday, 02:31pm

Student loan relief under CARES Act a 'safety net,' University of Utah grad says

Mario Organista, a 2015 University of Utah graduate who carries some $20,000 in student loan debt, says federal relief for borrowers extended under the CARES Act is a “safety net” for his household. Organista’s wife also has $25,000 to $30,000 in student loan debt, so the assistance provided by the federal legislation was a welcome relief, he said. It means that temporarily, they will have a $400 to $600 a month they can put toward savings, other debt and meeting household needs. Fortunately, Organista and his wife are both working but he said they are dealing with uncertainty as the economy sputters and there have been record job losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic — Marjorie Cortez, KSL

Wednesday, 01:16pm

146 new COVID-19 cases reported in Utah

Utah health officials reported 146 new COVID-19 cases in the state Wednesday with two new reported deaths. There are now 5,595 confirmed cases in Utah, with 464 hospitalizations and 58 total deaths from the disease, according to the Utah Department of Health. More information about the new cases can be found here. — Carter Williams, KSL.com

Wednesday, 09:32am

Utah County Commission: 68 employees at 2 businesses infected after bosses disobeyed protocol

Utah County Commissioner Tanner Ainge appeared on KSL NewsRadio’s “Dave & Dujanovic” Wednesday morning to remind businesses to follow COVID-19 protocols after two businesses in the county did not follow protocols, which led to 68 positive cases. His appearance on the radio program came after members of the Utah County Commission and various leaders across the county signed a letter Monday that acknowledged the cases from the businesses. At one of the businesses, nearly half of its employees tested positive for the coronavirus. Officials didn’t list the name of the two businesses and said they were “in two different geographic locations.” “During tracing contacts conducted by the Utah County Health Department and Utah Department of Health, we found these businesses instructed employees to not follow quarantine guidelines after exposure to a confirmed case at work and required employees with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis to still report to work,” the letter stated. “This is completely unacceptable and resulted in a temporary full closure for one business along with heightened requirements for future cleaning and inspections.” Ainge said the county and state health departments have not revealed the names of the businesses due to privacy concerns. — Carter Williams, KSL.com

Wednesday, 09:26am

Small Moab doughnut shop helped by purchases for health workers

Here’s a sweet COVID-19 update. The owner of a doughnut shop in Moab applied for small business protections amid the pandemic, but his business has been helped through donations to medical workers. John Schwager, the owner of The Donut Shop, said someone has been ordering 200 doughnuts a week that are donated to Moab Regional Medical Center workers on the front line. “Without community support, I wouldn't have a business,” he said in a statement through the U.S. Small Business Administration. “The Moab community has been very supportive of my doughnut shop Throughout the winter and the pandemic, they have been there to buy my doughnuts.” The business has delivered doughnuts to the hospital for the past few weeks, including on Monday. — Carter Williams, KSL.com

Wednesday, 08:01am

Gymnastics gym owners get the green light to open

In a major reversal, some gymnastic centers in Salt Lake County got the green light from the county health department to open their doors. This means businesses like dance studios, martial arts studios and similar businesses also can reopen, according to health department officials. The health department originally said gymnastic gyms and similar businesses fall into the category of “team or group” activities and therefore could not open during Utah's “orange phase” of coronavirus restrictions. But two gym owners argued they are not a team sport, but an individual sport that can operate as any fitness center. — Dan Rascon, KSL TV

Wednesday, 07:04am

U. scientists using HIV research in search for coronavirus drug development

For two decades, a pair of biochemists at the University of Utah worked on strategies for attacking HIV that should now help them attack the novel coronavirus. “HIV and the virus that causes COVID-19 have a lot of similarities in the way they attack a cell,” said Dr. Michael Kay, a professor of biochemistry at the university. That’s the key to their work as he and Dr. Debbie Eckert, a research assistant professor of biochemistry at the U., shift focus from HIV to the coronavirus. — Jed Boal, KSL TV

Wednesday, 06:55am

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Utah reported 132 new cases of COVID-19 and six new deaths.

Several major shopping malls in Utah began reopening after state leaders moved Utah’s COVID-19 level from high to moderate, and into the stabilization phase.

President Donald Trump visited an Arizona face mask factory Tuesday, using the trip to demonstrate his determination to see an easing of stay-at-home orders.

Read all of Tuesday's coronavirus coverage here.

Coronavirus updates: Trump says COVID-19 task force not dismantling, just refocusing

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - May 6, 2020 at 10:14 p.m. | Posted - May 6, 2020 at 7:04 a.m.

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump: COVID-19 task force not dismantling, just refocusing

Mendenhall proposes ‘conservative’ first budget amid pandemic uncertainty

Student loan relief under CARES Act a 'safety net,' University of Utah grad says

146 new COVID-19 cases reported in Utah

Utah County Commission: 68 employees at 2 businesses infected after bosses disobeyed protocol

Small Moab doughnut shop helped by purchases for health workers

Gymnastics gym owners get the green light to open

U. scientists using HIV research in search for coronavirus drug development

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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Coronavirus updates: Trump says COVID-19 task force not dismantling, just refocusing

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - May 6, 2020 at 10:14 p.m. | Posted - May 6, 2020 at 7:04 a.m.

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump: COVID-19 task force not dismantling, just refocusing

Mendenhall proposes ‘conservative’ first budget amid pandemic uncertainty

Churches can open under new Utah guidelines, but must still observe social distancing

Student loan relief under CARES Act a 'safety net,' University of Utah grad says

146 new COVID-19 cases reported in Utah

Utah County Commission: 68 employees at 2 businesses infected after bosses disobeyed protocol

Small Moab doughnut shop helped by purchases for health workers

Gymnastics gym owners get the green light to open

U. scientists using HIV research in search for coronavirus drug development

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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KSL.com coronavirus coverage

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Skiers camp out for first chair at the start of Snowbasin's 85th season

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