Coronavirus updates: State Prison reports 1st COVID-19 case; 'The curve is not flat,' S. Utah hospital director says

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - May 29, 2020 at 10:18 p.m. | Posted - May 29, 2020 at 7:03 a.m.

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

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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.

Friday, 10:13pm

Utah Department of Corrections reports 1st COVID-19 case at State Prison in Draper

Friday, 10:11pm

Judge calls off Grantsville country show that defied public health orders

A judge issued an order Friday prohibiting a Saturday country music concert in Grantsville organized by activists who oppose public health restrictions. Third District Judge Dianna Gibson sided Friday with Tooele County leaders who argued the planned free show, featuring headliner Collin Raye, would put more Utahns at risk of falling sick with COVID-19. “The facts are these: There is a global pandemic; Utah has issued a state of emergency; and while all indications in Utah show that everything that we’re doing here is positive and we’re on the right track, this event — now, under these circumstances — creates an unnecessary health risk to the Tooele County citizens and all citizens of Utah,” Gibson said. — Annie Knox, KSL

Friday, 10:09pm

Utah in ‘far better spot’ than expected amid COVID-19 pandemic, state House speaker says

Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson said Friday that at this point in the COVID-19 pandemic the state is in a position to “maybe celebrate some of the great work that’s happened over the last two months” while taking advantage of an opportunity to rethink the future. “While no death or illness is acceptable, we’re are in a better spot, a far better spot, than we thought we would be 60 days ago,” the speaker said in a webinar for companies dealing with the health and economic impacts of the deadly virus put on by the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business. “Utah is doing exceptionally well. We are in the 90th percentile of states in the country in terms of how our economy is performing and in terms of our unemployment rate,” Wilson said, and viewed as one of the top three states to recover from the financial downturn. — Lisa Riley Roche, KSL

Friday, 10:07pm

New ways you can help Utahns affected by the coronavirus pandemic

Following a 20-30% surge in food pantry service demand in Box Elder, Cache and Rich counties during the coronavirus pandemic, Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox announced Thursday a new project to help residents in those northern Utah communities. The nonprofit organization Farmers Feeding Utah launched a campaign aiming to raise $150,000 that will go toward supplying the shelves at local food pantries. — Cater Williams, KSL.com

Friday, 10:06pm

Here’s what changed in Utah’s latest COVID-19 guideline revision

Gov. Gary Herbert further explained an executive order that he signed Wednesday, saying that it was done in an effort to find the perfect balance in reopening aspects of Utah’s economy while limiting the spread of COVID-19 in the state. The order, which lasts until June 5, came with the release of "version 4.5" of the state’s phased guidelines for the general public and businesses. Herbert said it enhances recommendations to follow health guidelines even as Utah has loosened restrictions for most places in Utah. After the governor signed an executive order Friday afternoon, Grand County, West Valley City and Magna joined nearly the rest of the state in Utah's yellow, or low-risk phase. Only Salt Lake City and the San Juan County communities of Bluff and Mexican Hat remain orange, or moderate-risk. — Carter Williams, KSL.com

Friday, 02:41pm

Virus ignited in US no earlier than mid-January, study says

The spark that started the U.S. coronavirus epidemic arrived during a three-week window, from mid-January to early February, before the nation halted travel from China, according to the most comprehensive federal study to date of when the virus began spreading. That means anyone in the U.S. who thought they had the virus in December or early January probably had the flu, public health researchers said. Some people have claimed Americans were getting sick from the coronavirus as early as November and that infections were spreading in the U.S. before any case was identified, said Dr. Robert Redfield, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. — Associated Press

Friday, 02:35pm

Utah sees highest single-day COVID-19 increase again with 343 cases, but officials not alarmed yetUtah sees highest single-day COVID-19 increase again with 343 cases, but officials not alarmed yet

Utah has broken its COVID-19 single-day new cases record for the second day in a row, but health officials are cautioning against jumping to conclusions. The number of COVID-19 cases in the state increased by 343 from Thursday — the highest daily increase since the pandemic began, according to the Utah Department of Health. One more death from the disease also was reported Friday. The state's previous highest number of new cases in a single day came Thursday, when 215 new cases were announced. However, health officials say looking at trends of several weeks is more important than day-to-day changes. — Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Friday, 01:35pm

Trump 'terminating' US relationship with World Health Organization

In a press conference on Friday afternoon, President Donald Trump announced the United States is terminating its relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting its funding to other organizations. Trump claimed the WHO has not made substantive reforms on its coronavirus response and instead listened to China. Health experts fear that cutting the WHO's funding amid the coronavirus crisis may set back the global epidemic response. — Katie Workman, KSL.com

Friday, 10:15am

Utah details plan to bring back athletes to campus

As student-athletes prepare to return to the University of Utah in June for voluntary workouts related to their sport, the university has released a detailed plan to ensure their safety amid a still uncertain future related to the coronavirus pandemic. The comprehensive plan, which was announced Thursday, is intended to maintain student-athlete safety while allowing them to use the various athletic facilities to train for their sport. In-state athletes will be the first individuals allowed to return to campus on June 15, which is the first day the Pac-12 will allow for athletes to return to campus to train. — Josh Furlong, KSL.com

Friday, 10:15am

'The curve is not flat'; Southern Utah hospital director sounds alarm as coronavirus hospitalizations increase

The number of those hospitalized in Southern Utah for the coronavirus went up 75% in one day on Thursday and the medical director of Dixie Regional Medical Center said the hospital is now dealing with the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Patrick Carroll, medical director of Dixie Regional Medical Center, said coronavirus hospitalizations at DRMC alone have doubled since the weekend to 14. “The reality is, all of our planning has been we’ve just been planning. We’re now seeing the reality of this. It’s a bit sobering,” Carroll said. “This is the key point with infectious diseases. When people affect more than one person, we get exponential growth. The curve is not flat. It’s in an exponential phase in Washington County right now. It’s hard to not call this a surge event.” — Chris Reed, St. George News

Friday, 07:03am

US consumer spending sinks by record 13.6% in face of virus

U.S. consumer spending plunged by a record-shattering 13.6% in April as the viral pandemic shuttered businesses, forced millions of layoffs and sent the economy into a deep recession. Last month's spending decline was far worse than the revised 6.9% drop in March, which itself had set a record for the steepest one-month fall in records dating to 1959. Friday's Commerce Department figures reinforced evidence that the economy is gripped by the worst downturn in decades, with consumers unable or too anxious to spend much. — Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press

Friday, 07:03am

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases increased by 215 on Thursday, the largest single-day increase since the pandemic began, with two new reported deaths.

Another 5,455 Utahns filed for unemployment insurance benefits last week.

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.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert’s office announced on Thursday that requests from Magna, West Valley City and Grand County to transition to the low COVID-19 risk phase could be approved as early as Friday.

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.

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

Coronavirus updates: State Prison reports 1st COVID-19 case; 'The curve is not flat,' S. Utah hospital director says

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - May 29, 2020 at 10:18 p.m. | Posted - May 29, 2020 at 7:03 a.m.

(David Goldman, AP Photo, File)

Utah Department of Corrections reports 1st COVID-19 case at State Prison in Draper

Judge calls off Grantsville country show that defied public health orders

Utah in ‘far better spot’ than expected amid COVID-19 pandemic, state House speaker says

New ways you can help Utahns affected by the coronavirus pandemic

Here’s what changed in Utah’s latest COVID-19 guideline revision

Virus ignited in US no earlier than mid-January, study says

Utah sees highest single-day COVID-19 increase again with 343 cases, but officials not alarmed yetUtah sees highest single-day COVID-19 increase again with 343 cases, but officials not alarmed yet

Trump 'terminating' US relationship with World Health Organization

Utah details plan to bring back athletes to campus

'The curve is not flat'; Southern Utah hospital director sounds alarm as coronavirus hospitalizations increase

US consumer spending sinks by record 13.6% in face of virus

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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Coronavirus updates: State Prison reports 1st COVID-19 case; 'The curve is not flat,' S. Utah hospital director says

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - May 29, 2020 at 10:18 p.m. | Posted - May 29, 2020 at 7:03 a.m.

(David Goldman, AP Photo, File)

Utah Department of Corrections reports 1st COVID-19 case at State Prison in Draper

Judge calls off Grantsville country show that defied public health orders

Utah in ‘far better spot’ than expected amid COVID-19 pandemic, state House speaker says

New ways you can help Utahns affected by the coronavirus pandemic

Here’s what changed in Utah’s latest COVID-19 guideline revision

Virus ignited in US no earlier than mid-January, study says

Utah sees highest single-day COVID-19 increase again with 343 cases, but officials not alarmed yetUtah sees highest single-day COVID-19 increase again with 343 cases, but officials not alarmed yet

Trump 'terminating' US relationship with World Health Organization

Utah details plan to bring back athletes to campus

'The curve is not flat'; Southern Utah hospital director sounds alarm as coronavirus hospitalizations increase

US consumer spending sinks by record 13.6% in face of virus

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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