Coronavirus updates: Mary Kaye Huntsman tests positive; Utah sees 495 new cases of COVID-19, 3 new deaths

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SALT LAKE CITY — Here are the latest updates on COVID-19 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, 10:53pm

3 coordinated 4th of July firework shows planned for Utah County

With COVID-19, there’s no question Independence Day celebrations in Utah will be unlike any of the previous years. However, different doesn’t mean there won’t be fireworks. The annual Stadium of Fire concert and fireworks event has been held for years. Organizers announced the show won’t go on because of the coronavirus pandemic, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be pyrotechnics lighting up the night. Stadium of Fire will produce three major shows in Utah County, all starting at 10 p.m. and working in concert with each other. — Dave McCann, KSL TV

Thursday, 05:51pm

Days before tournament opener in Herriman, unidentified NWSL player tests positive for COVID-19

A player from the National Women’s Soccer League has tested positive for COVID-19, the NWSL confirmed Thursday evening. The affected player and club, neither of which have been identified, are following all appropriate medical and contact tracing protocol established by the league prior to its announcement of the NWSL Challenge Cup, which will kickoff in less than 10 days at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman. All players were or will be tested in the days leading up to traveling to Utah, according to the league’s protocols, which also call for additional testing upon arrival and throughout the tournament. — Sean Walker, KSL.com

Thursday, 05:25pm

9 more counties in Utah to transition to green risk phase, governor announces

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert announced Thursday nine more counties will move into the green, or new normal health risk status, amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. Beaver, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Millard, Piute, Uintah and Wayne counties will join Kane County — which became the first county in Utah to transition to the green phase last week — starting on Friday at 1 p.m., Herbert said in an executive order. — Lauren Bennett, KSL.com

Thursday, 02:21pm

Mary Kaye Huntsman tests positive for COVID-19

Mary Kaye Huntsman, wife of John Huntsman, announced she was positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. "Back together again after Covid19 isolated us apart. The good news is that Jon is on the mends. The bad news, is this is a very very contagious virus. I have now tested positive. So worried now about the rest of our household," Huntsman wrote on her Instagram. —Katie Workman, KSL.com

Thursday, 01:15pm

Utah sees 495 new cases of COVID-19, 3 new deaths

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 495 from Wednesday, with three new reported deaths, according to the Utah Department of Health. Thursday's totals give Utah 15,839 total confirmed cases, with 1,120 total hospitalizations and 152 total deaths from the disease. Previously, there were 15,344 cases in the state. The new numbers indicate a 3.2% increase in positive cases since Wednesday. Of the 282,685 tests conducted in Utah so far, 5.6% were positive for COVID-19. — Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Thursday, 11:33am

Utah lawmakers return to Capitol for special session to tackle COVID-19 budget issues

Some legislators returned to the Utah Capitol for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday to convene for another special session to deal with numerous issues the outbreak has created. While some lawmakers chose to participate virtually via web camera, dozens of others attended in person, most wearing masks. On the House floor, a handful of representatives — all Republicans — did not don face coverings. — Katie McKellar, KSL

Thursday, 11:33am

Unemployment claims in Utah down almost 12% after unexpected 1-week rise

After unexpectedly rising last week, the number of Utahns filing claims for jobless assistance declined during the most recent week. The Utah Division of Unemployment Insurance reported Thursday that 4,847 new claims for benefits were submitted for the week of June 7 to June 13 — down nearly 12% from 5,452 claims the previous week. — Jasen Lee, KSL

Thursday, 11:33am

Utah transit systems look to restore public confidence, recover ridership in COVID-19 era

Having experienced plummeting ridership over the last couple of months due to the shuttering of businesses, schools and government agencies, Utah’s public transportation systems are starting to creep toward recovery. “This is not a short-term recovery. We are not under any illusion that within six months or a year that we will be back to where we were,” said Carlton Christensen, chairman of the UTA board. “It could be years so we are trying to figure that out.” Leadership from Utah Transit Authority, Cache Valley Transit District, Park City Transit and St. George’s SunTran met virtually with Utah lawmakers Tuesday to discuss COVID-19’s impact on their agencies. — Sahalie Donaldson, KSL

Thursday, 09:21am

Why former Weber State star Damian Lillard doesn't 'feel 100% comfortable' with NBA's return to play

Portland Trail Blazers standout Damian Lillard doesn’t know if he’s ready for the NBA to resume its season, but the league is planning to allow players to report to the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando beginning July 7-9, according to memos obtained by the Associated Press. The league has made several attempts to maintain health and safety for all its players, coaches and staff during the coronavirus pandemic, including creating a “bubble” to play out the remainder of the regular season with a modified playoff structure. But still, the former Weber State star admits he isn’t completely at peace with rushing back in to play out the remainder of the 2019-20 season near Orlando, Florida. — Sean Walker, KSL.com

Thursday, 09:21am

Study ties blood type to COVID-19 risk; O may help, A hurt

A genetic analysis of COVID-19 patients suggests that blood type might influence whether someone develops severe disease. Scientists who compared the genes of thousands of patients in Europe found that those who had Type A blood were more likely to have severe disease while those with Type O were less likely. — Associated Press

Thursday, 09:21am

Impact of COVID-19 on Utah housing sector expected to be significant, analyst says

At the beginning of 2020, Utah housing experts were predicting the median home price in Salt Lake County would top $400,000 for the first time. Now three months after the state first shut down businesses in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, one economist is rethinking those rosy metrics from the state’s once red-hot economy. “The COVID-19 recession will cut residential construction and existing home sales by 8% to 10%, depending on the type of housing,” James Wood, Ivory-Boyer senior fellow at the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, said. — Jasen Lee, KSL

Thursday, 09:21am

Utah’s budget shortfall due to coronavirus now $850 million — an improvement over early projections

Utah legislative leaders got some good news Wednesday about how hard state revenues have been hit by the economic impacts of COVID-19, with a new estimated budget shortfall of $850 million rather than the nearly $2 billion initially forecast. The new forecast presented to the Legislature’s Executive Appropriations Committee comes as lawmakers prepare to meet starting today in what will be their fifth special session this year to largely roll the $20 billion budget set to take effect July 1 back to current year spending levels and then reducing that overall by 1.7%. — Lisa Riley Roche, KSL

Thursday, 08:03am

Pleasant Grove liquor store closed after employee tests positive for COVID-19

The liquor and wine store at 671 S. Pleasant Grove Boulevard in Pleasant Grove will be closed Thursday after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control said in a news release. The store will be sanitized and disinfected, the release said. A reopening date has not been set. The department did not release any other information about the closure. — Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Thursday, 07:05am

1.5 million more laid-off workers seek unemployment benefits

About 1.5 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, a historically high number, even as the economy increasingly reopens and employers bring some people back to work. The latest figure from the Labor Department marked the 11th straight weekly decline in applications since they peaked at nearly 7 million in March as the coronavirus shut down much of the economy and caused tens of millions of layoffs. The decline was much smaller, though, than in recent weeks, falling just 58,000. — Associated Press

Thursday, 07:05am

US virus outbreaks stir clash over masks, personal freedom

When the coronavirus flared in China's capital this week, Beijing canceled flights, suspended reopenings and described the situation as “extremely grave.” But with cases rising in some U.S. states, local officials have balked at even requiring people to wear masks. In the United States, which has the most confirmed cases and deaths in the world, authorities wrestled with balancing demands for constitutional rights and personal freedom with warnings from health officials that being lax will have deadly consequences. Read more about the issue here. — Associated Press

Thursday, 06:51am

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases increased by 407 on Wednesday, with four new reported deaths.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi is requiring that House members wear masks when attending committee hearings, an edict that comes amid spiking COVID-19 cases in many states.

Representatives from Utah’s agriculture sectors informed lawmakers about COVID-19’s impact on their respective industries Tuesday morning, also relaying some of the complications that have arisen in the application process for federal relief funding grants intended for struggling farmers and ranchers.

A day before a special legislative session to address a $850 million budget shortfall created by COVID-19’s economic impacts is set to begin, Utah leaders on Wednesday unveiled an updated version of their plan to handle the pandemic.

Read all of yesterday’s coronavirus news here

Coronavirus updates: Mary Kaye Huntsman tests positive; Utah sees 495 new cases of COVID-19, 3 new deaths

By KSL | Updated - June 18, 2020 at 10:53 p.m. | Posted - June 18, 2020 at 7:05 a.m.

(Jeffrey D. Allred, KSL, File)

3 coordinated 4th of July firework shows planned for Utah County

Days before tournament opener in Herriman, unidentified NWSL player tests positive for COVID-19

9 more counties in Utah to transition to green risk phase, governor announces

Mary Kaye Huntsman tests positive for COVID-19

Utah sees 495 new cases of COVID-19, 3 new deaths

Utah lawmakers return to Capitol for special session to tackle COVID-19 budget issues

Unemployment claims in Utah down almost 12% after unexpected 1-week rise

Utah transit systems look to restore public confidence, recover ridership in COVID-19 era

Why former Weber State star Damian Lillard doesn't 'feel 100% comfortable' with NBA's return to play

Study ties blood type to COVID-19 risk; O may help, A hurt

Impact of COVID-19 on Utah housing sector expected to be significant, analyst says

Utah’s budget shortfall due to coronavirus now $850 million — an improvement over early projections

Pleasant Grove liquor store closed after employee tests positive for COVID-19

1.5 million more laid-off workers seek unemployment benefits

US virus outbreaks stir clash over masks, personal freedom

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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Coronavirus updates: Mary Kaye Huntsman tests positive; Utah sees 495 new cases of COVID-19, 3 new deaths

By KSL | Updated - June 18, 2020 at 10:53 p.m. | Posted - June 18, 2020 at 7:05 a.m.

(Jeffrey D. Allred, KSL, File)

3 coordinated 4th of July firework shows planned for Utah County

Days before tournament opener in Herriman, unidentified NWSL player tests positive for COVID-19

9 more counties in Utah to transition to green risk phase, governor announces

Mary Kaye Huntsman tests positive for COVID-19

Utah sees 495 new cases of COVID-19, 3 new deaths

Utah lawmakers return to Capitol for special session to tackle COVID-19 budget issues

Unemployment claims in Utah down almost 12% after unexpected 1-week rise

Utah transit systems look to restore public confidence, recover ridership in COVID-19 era

Why former Weber State star Damian Lillard doesn't 'feel 100% comfortable' with NBA's return to play

Study ties blood type to COVID-19 risk; O may help, A hurt

Impact of COVID-19 on Utah housing sector expected to be significant, analyst says

Utah’s budget shortfall due to coronavirus now $850 million — an improvement over early projections

Pleasant Grove liquor store closed after employee tests positive for COVID-19

1.5 million more laid-off workers seek unemployment benefits

US virus outbreaks stir clash over masks, personal freedom

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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Salt Lake City close to fully replacing 200 North Temple trees lost in 2024 mishap

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