Coronavirus updates: Utah reports 215 new cases; board discusses state, local input on school reopenings

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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, 08:36pm

Masks? Split sessions? State wants local school officials to play role in reopening

Just as the Utah State Board of Education acted as a resource to public schools when the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to make a sudden pivot to distance learning in mid-March, several board members said Thursday it should serve a similar role as schools prepare for fall. Gov. Gary Herbert’s administration and the State School Board are developing guidance to support schools as they navigate uncharted territory, but no one’s given the green light to reopen — yet. “If you really heard what the governor said about schools opening in the fall, he said it is our intent for all schools to be open in the fall,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sydnee Dickson. — Marjorie Cortez, KSL

Thursday, 08:32pm

Mitch McConnell stresses need to wear face masks in public

Wading into a politically charged issue, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday preached the importance of wearing masks in public as the nation's economy reopens from the “cataclysmic" damage inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic. During a tour of hospitals this week in his home state of Kentucky, the Republican leader has stressed wearing masks in public and following social distancing guidelines. “There should be no stigma attached to wearing a mask," McConnell said during an appearance in Owensboro. “And even among age groups that are least likely to either contract this disease or die from it, you could be a carrier. So I think what we all need to do is say, ‘OK, I’m going to take responsibility not only for myself but for others.’” — Associated Press

Thursday, 02:58pm

Utah sees 215 new cases of COVID-19, 2 new deaths

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 215 from Wednesday, with two new reported deaths, according to the Utah Department of Health. Thursday's totals give Utah 8,921 total confirmed cases, with 734 total hospitalizations and 106 total deaths from the disease. Previously, there were 8,706 cases in the state. The new numbers indicate a 2.5% increase in positive cases since Wednesday. Of the 203,507 tests conducted in Utah so far, 4.4% were positive for COVID-19. — Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Thursday, 02:33pm

Officials announce cancellation of Logan Pioneer Day parade and celebration

Logan officials announced the cancellation of the city’s Pioneer Day parade and celebration Thursday morning — the latest in a string of summer events around the state canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The parade and celebration was scheduled to take place on July 24 at Willow Park. “The cancellation comes as a result of disruption to the planning for the Pioneer Day Celebration, current recommendations regarding social distancing at mass gatherings and public events and financial impact to event sponsors,” city officials wrote on the Logan Facebook page Thursday morning. — Sahalie Donaldson, KSL

Thursday, 08:05am

5K more Utahns file for unemployment benefits, down for 7th straight week

Another 5,455 Utahns filed for unemployment insurance benefits last week. The U.S. Department of Labor released numbers Thursday that show the increase. That marks the seventh straight week that the number of new Utahns filing was lower than the previous week, though unemployment numbers remain at historic highs in the state. In the week of May 10-16, 6,275 people filed for unemployment benefits. — Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Thursday, 07:03am

41 million have lost jobs since virus hit, but layoffs slow

Roughly 2.1 million people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, a sign that companies are still slashing jobs in the face of a deep recession even as more businesses reopen and rehire some laid-off employees. About 41 million people have now applied for aid since the virus outbreak intensified in March, though not all of them are still unemployed. — Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press

Thursday, 07:03am

School board calls off proposed ‘Jordan Cup’ citing safety concerns

Citing “safety concerns for everyone involved,” the Jordan Board of Education halted the proposed “Jordan Cup,” which was intended to provide district-level competitions for spring sports athletes whose seasons were cut short by COVID-19. As envisioned, “Jordan Cup” competitions were to be conducted in late June, after the end of the school year. Participating students would have undergone 10 days of conditioning prior to taking part in the athletic competitions. But the Jordan School Board decided Tuesday night not to proceed based on safety concerns, district spokeswoman Sandy Riesgraf confirmed on Wednesday. — Marjorie Cortez, KSL

Thursday, 07:03am

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 86 on Wednesday with four new reported deaths, according to the Utah Department of Health.

Not even two weeks into the yellow “low-risk” level, a state official said the latest data on coronavirus cases is moving in the right direction for Utah to transition to the “new normal” level as early as June.

Gov. Gary Herbert issued an executive order on Wednesday updating the guidelines for the low-risk phase in the Utah Leads Together Plan.

Utah State University, Southern Utah University and Utah Valley University will return to in-person classes this fall, joining the University of Utah, which earlier confirmed it will resume on-campus classes fall term.

Catch up on all of yesterday's coronavirus news here.

Coronavirus updates: Utah reports 215 new cases; board discusses state, local input on school reopenings

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - May 28, 2020 at 8:52 p.m. | Posted - May 28, 2020 at 7:03 a.m.

(John Minchillo, AP Photo, File)

Masks? Split sessions? State wants local school officials to play role in reopening

Mitch McConnell stresses need to wear face masks in public

Utah sees 215 new cases of COVID-19, 2 new deaths

Officials announce cancellation of Logan Pioneer Day parade and celebration

5K more Utahns file for unemployment benefits, down for 7th straight week

41 million have lost jobs since virus hit, but layoffs slow

School board calls off proposed ‘Jordan Cup’ citing safety concerns

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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Coronavirus updates: Utah reports 215 new cases; board discusses state, local input on school reopenings

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - May 28, 2020 at 8:52 p.m. | Posted - May 28, 2020 at 7:03 a.m.

(John Minchillo, AP Photo, File)

Masks? Split sessions? State wants local school officials to play role in reopening

Mitch McConnell stresses need to wear face masks in public

Utah sees 215 new cases of COVID-19, 2 new deaths

Officials announce cancellation of Logan Pioneer Day parade and celebration

5K more Utahns file for unemployment benefits, down for 7th straight week

41 million have lost jobs since virus hit, but layoffs slow

School board calls off proposed ‘Jordan Cup’ citing safety concerns

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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