Coronavirus updates: Intermountain to reinstate stricter visitation guidelines

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - June 26, 2020 at 9:18 p.m. | Posted - June 26, 2020 at 6:39 a.m.

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

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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.

Friday, 09:14pm

As COVID-19 numbers in Utah continue to rise, businesses are left to make their own mask policies

As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, businesses in Utah are taking the mask issue into their own hands with some creating policies requiring customers to wear masks while in their buildings. Current state guidelines for private businesses only require employees working with the general public to wear masks. But Jake Wilson, general manager of Snider Bros. Meats, says his store requires all customers to wear a mask while shopping to protect his employees and the other customers. “For me, I have a newborn at home, and I live with people who are all high risk. I, myself, am high risk,” Wilson said. “I’m not a doctor; I didn’t spend time, money and energy to get my doctorate. I’m definitely not a scientist, so I’m just going to operate off the best information possible.” — Mack Jones, KSL

Friday, 09:11pm

We asked why you choose to or not wear a mask. Here’s how 1K KSL.com readers responded

To mask or not to mask? Utah Gov. Gary Herbert on Thursday approved requests from Salt Lake and Summit counties that will require people to wear masks in public situations in those counties. They will be the first two counties in the state to have a mask mandate beginning Saturday. This week, Utah health care providers teamed up to promote mask use and 28 religious leaders also pleaded for people to wear masks. At the same time, a group of people outside of the Utah Capitol on Thursday night protested the idea of mandating masks. — Carter Williams, KSL.com

Friday, 03:22pm

Major cities reach hospital capacity as governors, Pence cite misleading statewide data

Governors in places seeing huge spikes in coronavirus infections often cite statewide data to assure the public they have plenty of hospital capacity to survive the onslaught, even as the states routinely miss the critical benchmarks from the White House to guide their pandemic response. Public health officials and experts say the heavy reliance on statewide hospital data is a misleading and sometimes irresponsible metric to justify keeping a state open or holding back on imposing new limits, because major cities are nearing or at capacity with risk of being overwhelmed. Hospital beds in Houston are filling so fast that Texas Children’s Hospital is starting to treat adult patients, and 97% of ICU beds at Texas Medical Center were in use. In Miami, Homestead Hospital confirmed Tuesday it was at capacity. The hospital was transferring patients to other hospitals and preparing to convert regular beds to beds for ICU and acute care patients, if needed. 85% of Arizona’s hospital beds are occupied. —Associated Press

Friday, 03:22pm

Record 676 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Utah; 2 new deaths

Utah health officials said Friday there are 676 new cases of COVID-19 in the state with two new deaths. The number of cases reported Friday breaks the record for most new cases reported in a day; the previous record of 643 cases was set just last weekend. "For the second time in a week, we are announcing our highest daily case count total. These cases affect all Utah residents," said Dr. Angela Dunn, the state's epidemiologist, in a prepared statement. "They have the potential to threaten our economy, and our ability to ensure people can receive the care they need in our hospitals. "Each one of these cases represents a household that will now be required to quarantine. This means parents will be unable to go to work and children will be unable to see their friends. Each one of these cases inches us closer to maxing out our hospital capacity," she added. "If this happens, some Utahns who need hospital care may not be able to get it. And each one of these cases poses a clear and significant danger to somebody who falls into a high-risk category." For a full analysis of today's COVID-19 numbers, click here. —Carter Williams, KSL.com

Friday, 01:50pm

Intermountain to reinstate stricter visitation guidelines

With COVID-19 continuing to rise in Utah, including a state-record 676 new cases reported Friday, Intermountain Healthcare will reinstate more strict guidelines for visitors at all Intermountain Healthcare hospitals and clinics in Utah and Idaho. The policies will be implemented beginning on Monday. Under the stricter rules, visitors to hospitals and emergency room will only be allowed for these circumstances:

Patients younger than 18 can have a maximum of two visitors throughout their stay.

Patients who need an adult to keep them safe can have one healthy visitor during their time in the hospital.

Mothers in labor can have one designated visitor.

Both parents of healthy newborns can visit.

End-of-life patients who are free of COVID-19 can have two visitors at a time, with no more than four visitors total while in the hospital. The visitors must be older than 12 and must wear a mask or cloth face covering.

End-of-life patients with suspected or active COVID-19 can have only two total designated visitors. They both must be over 12 and wear specific protective equipment.

A designated visitor can not switch with other individuals through the course of a hospital stay.

“We understand communicating with loved ones is an important part of a patient’s healing process. We encourage people to communicate electronically with patients through phone calls, video chats, or texting, which are great alternatives to help patients feel loved and connected,” said Shannon Phillips, MD, chief patient experience officer at Intermountain Healthcare.” As for clinics and Instacare locations, Intermountain says that unless a companion is needed — such as with a child — patients should come to appointments alone. — Ryan Miller, KSL.com

Friday, 12:44pm

Harmons grocery store will require shoppers to wear masks in Salt Lake County starting June 27th

All Salt Lake County stores of Harmons grocery will mandate shoppers wear facemasks on Saturday, June 27, and all associates will continue to do so. All Harmons stores will implement a mask requirement soon thereafter on July 5. Signs at the door and inside will remind customers of the requirement. "Harmons is committed to doing all that we can to keep our associates and customers safe. This is the obvious next step as cases continue to grow," Bob Harmon, chairman of the customer wrote in a press release on Friday. —Katie Workman, KSL.com

Friday, 12:44pm

Piute County commissioner compares governor to Hitler over Salt Lake mask rule

A Piute County commissioner likened Utah Gov. Gary Herbert to Adolf Hitler after he approved requests Thursday from two counties to require masks in public, saying the community should prepare to offer a “Heil Herbert” salute. The tweet, which was accompanied by #nazi and #mask, also included a photograph of a group of people doing the Nazi salute. It was posted after Herbert approved requests from officials in Salt Lake and Summit counties to require people to wear a mask in public in their counties. The mandates, which were made in response to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the state, will go into effect Saturday. —Sahalie Donaldson, KSL

Friday, 12:44pm

States retreat as confirmed virus cases hit all-time high

Texas and Florida reversed course and clamped down on bars again Friday in the nation’s biggest retreat yet as the number of confirmed coronavirus infections per day in the U.S. surged to an all-time high of 40,000. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all bars closed, while Florida banned alcohol at all such establishments. The two states joined the small but growing list of those that are either backtracking or putting any further reopenings of their economies on hold because of a comeback by the virus, mostly in the South and West. Health experts have said a disturbingly large number of cases are being seen among young people who are going out again, often without wearing masks or observing other social-distancing rules. —Associated Press

Friday, 12:43pm

All hands on deck for contact tracing at Utah health departments

As the numbers continue to rise for COVID-19, health departments along the Wasatch Front were getting stretched thin finding enough workers to reduce the spread of the virus through contact tracing. The job needs urgent attention because workers need to reach each person potentially exposed to the virus within two days. Health department workers are pushing aside many of their usual responsibilities to switch over to contact tracing. —Mike Anderson, KSL TV

Friday, 12:31pm

As COVID cases rise, White House seeks to scrap 'Obamacare'

As coronavirus cases rise in more than half of the states, the Trump administration is urging the Supreme Court to overturn the Affordable Care Act. The administration's high court filing at 10:30 p.m. Thursday came the same day the government reported that close to half a million people who lost their health insurance amid the economic shutdown to slow the spread of COVID-19 have gotten coverage through HealthCare.gov. More than 20 million Americans could lose their health coverage and protections for people with preexisting health conditions also would be put at risk if the court agrees with the administration. The administration's legal brief makes no mention of the virus. —Associated Press

Friday, 09:20am

KSL Investigates: Are shoppers ignoring store requests to cover their faces?

Even with health officials and politicians screaming about the importance of wearing them, it seems there are plenty of people who have formed their own opinion about the importance of face coverings. On Wednesday, the KSL Investigators fanned out to about 50 grocery stores all over the state. None of the stores we picked require face coverings, but many had a sign asking customers to please consider wearing a mask. Here is what they found. — Matt Gephardt, KSL TV

Friday, 09:20am

More news outlets enter legal fight for names of Utah County businesses tied to outbreak

A coalition of Utah news organizations is throwing its support behind KSL-TV’s legal effort to obtain the names of two Utah County businesses tied to a coronavirus outbreak in May. The television station sued the county earlier this month after it declined to fulfill a public records request seeking the information. County leaders had linked the two companies to 68 cases of COVID-19, drawing national attention when they alleged employees were told to show up even after they tested positive or came into contact with infected co-workers. — Annie Knox, KSL

Friday, 09:20am

Utah’s COVID-19 response impacting key primary races

Just days before Utah’s primary election will decide the Republican nominees in the heated races for governor and in the 4th Congressional District, there’s a new controversy over efforts to mandate wearing face masks in some parts of the state to slow the spread of COVID-19. As the number of novel coronavirus cases in Utah continues to spike, it was confirmed Thursday evening that Gov. Gary Herbert will allow Salt Lake and Summit counties to require masks be worn in public, a decision likely to fuel more friction between GOP candidates in both races around what’s largely become a political issue. — Lisa Riley Roche, KSL

Friday, 07:49am

ACT, SAT results will be optional in applying to the University of Utah for fall 2021

The University of Utah will not require applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores for fall 2021 admission under a two-year pilot program announced Thursday. Steve Robinson, the U.’s senior associate vice president for enrollment management, said the COVID-19 pandemic has limited high school students’ access to testing centers. Even as testing has resumed, there has been reduced capacity resulting in backlogs of students who want to take the tests. — Marjorie Cortez, KSL

Friday, 07:05am

US health officials estimate 20M Americans have had virus

U.S. officials estimate that 20 million Americans have been infected with the coronavirus since it first arrived in the United States, meaning that the vast majority of the population remains susceptible. Thursday's estimate is roughly 10 times as many infections as the 2.3 million cases that have been confirmed. Officials have long known that millions of people were infected without knowing it and that many cases are being missed because of gaps in testing. — Associated Press

Friday, 07:05am

Governors who quickly reopened backpedal as virus surges

When Texas began lifting coronavirus restrictions, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott didn't wear a mask. He wouldn't let mayors enact extra precautions during one of America's swiftest efforts to reopen. He pointed out that the White House backed his plan and gave assurances there were safe ways to go out again. Two months later, a sharp reversal is unfolding as infections surge. The backpedaling is not just in Texas, where Abbott abruptly halted the push to loosen more restrictions and is now urgently telling people to stay home. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, also a Republican, did the same, declaring the state “on pause” as hospitals accelerate toward capacity. — Associated Press

Friday, 07:05am

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

New unemployment claims steady in latest Utah numbers

Utah company’s COVID-19 drug 'fast-tracked' by FDA

Gov. Herbert, local leaders address the needs of Latino community during COVID-19

Governor approves Salt Lake, Summit counties' requests to mandate masks in public

Group gathers at Capitol to rally against prospect of increased coronavirus restrictions

Read all of yesterday’s coronavirus news here

Coronavirus updates: Intermountain to reinstate stricter visitation guidelines

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - June 26, 2020 at 9:18 p.m. | Posted - June 26, 2020 at 6:39 a.m.

(Rick Bowmer, Pool)

As COVID-19 numbers in Utah continue to rise, businesses are left to make their own mask policies

We asked why you choose to or not wear a mask. Here’s how 1K KSL.com readers responded

Major cities reach hospital capacity as governors, Pence cite misleading statewide data

Record 676 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Utah; 2 new deaths

Intermountain to reinstate stricter visitation guidelines

Harmons grocery store will require shoppers to wear masks in Salt Lake County starting June 27th

Piute County commissioner compares governor to Hitler over Salt Lake mask rule

States retreat as confirmed virus cases hit all-time high

All hands on deck for contact tracing at Utah health departments

As COVID cases rise, White House seeks to scrap 'Obamacare'

KSL Investigates: Are shoppers ignoring store requests to cover their faces?

More news outlets enter legal fight for names of Utah County businesses tied to outbreak

Utah’s COVID-19 response impacting key primary races

ACT, SAT results will be optional in applying to the University of Utah for fall 2021

US health officials estimate 20M Americans have had virus

Governors who quickly reopened backpedal as virus surges

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Most recent Coronavirus stories

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Pandemic policies under scrutiny: American voters question COVID-19 measures

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Coronavirus updates: Intermountain to reinstate stricter visitation guidelines

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - June 26, 2020 at 9:18 p.m. | Posted - June 26, 2020 at 6:39 a.m.

(Rick Bowmer, Pool)

As COVID-19 numbers in Utah continue to rise, businesses are left to make their own mask policies

We asked why you choose to or not wear a mask. Here’s how 1K KSL.com readers responded

Major cities reach hospital capacity as governors, Pence cite misleading statewide data

Record 676 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Utah; 2 new deaths

Intermountain to reinstate stricter visitation guidelines

Harmons grocery store will require shoppers to wear masks in Salt Lake County starting June 27th

Piute County commissioner compares governor to Hitler over Salt Lake mask rule

States retreat as confirmed virus cases hit all-time high

All hands on deck for contact tracing at Utah health departments

As COVID cases rise, White House seeks to scrap 'Obamacare'

KSL Investigates: Are shoppers ignoring store requests to cover their faces?

More news outlets enter legal fight for names of Utah County businesses tied to outbreak

Utah’s COVID-19 response impacting key primary races

ACT, SAT results will be optional in applying to the University of Utah for fall 2021

US health officials estimate 20M Americans have had virus

Governors who quickly reopened backpedal as virus surges

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Most recent Coronavirus stories

Pandemic policies under scrutiny: American voters question COVID-19 measures

Young adults most likely to still take extra precautions for COVID-19

Stuck at home during COVID-19, Gen Z started charities

Related topics

More stories you may be interested in

Pandemic policies under scrutiny: American voters question COVID-19 measures

Older US adults should get another COVID-19 shot, health officials recommend

COVID-19 no longer means 5 days in isolation, CDC says

Most Viewed

STAY IN THE KNOW

KSL Weather Forecast