Coronavirus updates: 8 deaths matches single-day high; Gov. says 'do better' about wearing masks

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - June 12, 2020 at 10:54 p.m. | Posted - June 12, 2020 at 7:08 a.m.

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

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, 10:52pm

Governor calls for Utahns to ‘do better’ about wearing face masks

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert called on Utahns Friday to “do better” about wearing face masks in public. While wearing a face covering in public isn’t mandatory in the state, officials have continually asked the public to wear one in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. — Lauren Bennett, KSL.com

Friday, 10:15pm

CDC joining efforts to address northern Utah COVID-19 spike, assist immigrants and refugees

The Centers for Disease Control is dispatching public health workers to help respond to a COVID-19 outbreak in Cache County where hundreds employed at a meat-packaging plant tested positive for the virus. The backup comes as churches, advocates and volunteers gather food and hygiene supplies for those infected in Cache County, many of them refugees and immigrants who work at the JBS beef packing plant in Hyrum. JBS corporate spokeswoman Nikki Richardson said some 1,400 employees work at the plant and most underwent mandatory testing on May 30 and June 2. According to health authorities, 287 workers tested positive for the virus. — Marjorie Cortez and Annie Knox, KSL

Friday, 02:22pm

Megaplex releases plans to reopen next week

Megaplex announced it is reopening most of its Utah theaters to the public for the first time since March — with some alterations. Theaters will begin reopening Thursday with limited capacity for every screen that will be based on state and local guidelines. Some Megaplex theaters had reopened for private events last month. At-risk or high-risk individuals are discouraged from going to the theaters. Guests and employees will also be required to observe all guidelines set up by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Employees will be required to wear gloves and masks, and be given wellness checks. All high-contact surfaces and areas will be cleaned regularly and theater auditoriums will be sanitized between every movie showing. Guests will be “strongly” encouraged to wear masks and follow social distancing procedures. Cashless payment options will be expanded and some items in food courts will either be temporarily suspended or scaled back. Guests will be able to order concessions through Megaplex’s mobile app and pick the concessions up at the theater. Since many new blockbuster movie releases were either pushed back to the fall and some new movies have been released on-demand, the company announced that it will start back up with some fan-favorite flicks. Movies like “Dunkirk,” “Just Mercy” and “The Hobbit” are among the movies that will be made available. New movies like Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” and Disney’s live-action version of “Mulan” are expected to be released in theaters on July 17 and July 24, respectively. — Carter Williams, KSL.com

Friday, 01:37pm

325 new cases of COVID-19, 8 new deaths reported in Utah

The Utah Department of Health reported 325 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, with eight new reported deaths. Friday's totals give Utah 13,577 total confirmed cases since the outbreak began in March, with 988 total hospitalizations and 139 total deaths from the disease. The new numbers indicate a 2.5% increase in positive cases since Thursday. Of the 258,786 tests conducted in Utah so far, 5.2% were positive for COVID-19. Full analysis of Friday's COVID-19 numbers can be found here. — Carter Williams, KSL.com

Friday, 11:11am

Kane County officially Utah's first area to reach 'green' phase on state's COVID-19 map

It's official: Kane County is the first to move to green, or "new normal," on the state's color-coded COVID-19 risk dial. The change went into effect at 10 a.m. Friday through an executive order from the governor's office. In addition, Bluff and Mexican Hat in San Juan County moved to yellow, or low-risk, joining nearly the rest of the state. — Carter Williams, KSL.com

Friday, 11:11am

Camping during coronavirus: Is it safe?

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, it seems like every travel-related decision is a calculus of risk — be it going to a restaurant or buying a plane ticket. And camping is no exception. So how has the pandemic affected camping this year? And if you decide to take a camping trip now that things are opening back up, what do you need to know before you go? Find the answers here. — CNN

Friday, 10:21am

Human trials begin for first antibody cocktail that might treat, prevent COVID-19

A medicine that may treat and prevent COVID-19 is now being tested in patients in multiple sites around the United States, according to an announcement Thursday from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. It is the first trial of a COVID-19 antibody cocktail in the United States. If successful, Regeneron hopes it could be available by the fall. The clinical trial started Wednesday. — CNN

Friday, 09:34am

Understanding Utah’s COVID-19 curve: When can we expect deceleration?

Now that Utah has experienced its first real spike in COVID-19 cases, or what Utah Department of Health epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn said last week could be the beginning of the state’s "acceleration phase," when can we anticipate deceleration or a drop in cases? It’s really too early to know when that will occur. That’s because cases are continuing to pile up at the highest rates state health officials have seen since the pandemic began. — Carter Williams, KSL.com

Friday, 09:34am

Update: Water quality engineers detect coronavirus through Utah’s sewage

The results from a sewage sampling pilot program led by the Utah Division of Water Quality has given hope for early detection of coronavirus in our communities. Scientists discovered they can track the coronavirus in our sewage. “Big picture, we were able to discover that we can indeed see and track the virus in sewage,” said Erica Gaddis, director of the Utah Division of Water Quality. — Jed Boal, KSL TV

Friday, 07:06am

Researchers ask if survivor plasma could prevent coronavirus

Survivors of COVID-19 are donating their blood plasma in droves in hopes it helps other patients recover from the coronavirus. And while the jury’s still out, now scientists are testing if the donations might also prevent infection in the first place. Thousands of coronavirus patients in hospitals around the world have been treated with so-called convalescent plasma — including more than 20,000 in the U.S. — with little solid evidence so far that it makes a difference. One recent study from China was unclear while another from New York offered a hint of benefit. “We have glimmers of hope,” said Dr. Shmuel Shoham of Johns Hopkins University. — Associated Press

Friday, 07:06am

Stock markets pick up after heavy Wall Street rout

Stock markets picked up on Friday after a day of losses in Asia and following Wall Street’s heavy sell-off the day before on worries over a possible second wave of coronavirus cases. Dow and S&P 500 futures were up 2.2% and 1.9%, respectively, indicating some stabilization after the Dow on Thursday fell by almost 7%. — Associated Press

Friday, 07:06am

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 388 from Wednesday, with three new reported deaths, according to the Utah Department of Health. After a recent statewide spike of COVID-19 cases, most of Utah will "pause" and stay at the yellow, low-risk level under the state's recovery plan, Gov. Gary Herbert announced Thursday.

Salt Lake City's updated proclamation allows businesses to operate outside of their regular buildings in an effort to promote the economy and allow businesses to more easily implement social distancing measures amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

About 1.5 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, evidence that many Americans are still losing their jobs even as the economy appears to be slowly recovering with more businesses partially reopening.

Read all of yesterday's coronavirus news here.

Coronavirus updates: 8 deaths matches single-day high; Gov. says 'do better' about wearing masks

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - June 12, 2020 at 10:54 p.m. | Posted - June 12, 2020 at 7:08 a.m.

(Xiong Qi, Xinhua via AP, File)

Governor calls for Utahns to ‘do better’ about wearing face masks

CDC joining efforts to address northern Utah COVID-19 spike, assist immigrants and refugees

Megaplex releases plans to reopen next week

325 new cases of COVID-19, 8 new deaths reported in Utah

Kane County officially Utah's first area to reach 'green' phase on state's COVID-19 map

Camping during coronavirus: Is it safe?

Human trials begin for first antibody cocktail that might treat, prevent COVID-19

Understanding Utah’s COVID-19 curve: When can we expect deceleration?

Update: Water quality engineers detect coronavirus through Utah’s sewage

Researchers ask if survivor plasma could prevent coronavirus

Stock markets pick up after heavy Wall Street rout

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Related links

Most recent News stories

Related topics

More stories you may be interested in

SPONSORED

Take in the breathtaking sights of Iceland with Utah tour group

University of Utah faculty pen letter criticizing protest response, ask for divestment from Israel

Ben Criddle: BYU basketball's most valuable addition may not be who you think

Most Viewed

STAY IN THE KNOW

KSL Weather Forecast

Coronavirus updates: 8 deaths matches single-day high; Gov. says 'do better' about wearing masks

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - June 12, 2020 at 10:54 p.m. | Posted - June 12, 2020 at 7:08 a.m.

(Xiong Qi, Xinhua via AP, File)

Governor calls for Utahns to ‘do better’ about wearing face masks

CDC joining efforts to address northern Utah COVID-19 spike, assist immigrants and refugees

Megaplex releases plans to reopen next week

325 new cases of COVID-19, 8 new deaths reported in Utah

Kane County officially Utah's first area to reach 'green' phase on state's COVID-19 map

Camping during coronavirus: Is it safe?

Human trials begin for first antibody cocktail that might treat, prevent COVID-19

Understanding Utah’s COVID-19 curve: When can we expect deceleration?

Update: Water quality engineers detect coronavirus through Utah’s sewage

Researchers ask if survivor plasma could prevent coronavirus

Stock markets pick up after heavy Wall Street rout

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Related links

KSL.com coronavirus coverage

Most recent News stories

Katherine Heigl reveals some of her go-to restaurants in Utah

Lori Daybell's niece testifies about zombies and castings at Chad Daybell's murder trial

Israel plays down Hamas move on Gaza cease-fire, hits Rafah

Related topics

More stories you may be interested in

SPONSORED

Take in the breathtaking sights of Iceland with Utah tour group

University of Utah faculty pen letter criticizing protest response, ask for divestment from Israel

Ben Criddle: BYU basketball's most valuable addition may not be who you think

Most Viewed

STAY IN THE KNOW

KSL Weather Forecast