Coronavirus updates: Record new 722 cases, 7 more deaths; Trump threatens federal aid for schools that don't reopen

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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.

Wednesday, 10:11pm

UTA reveals data, plans to move forward through pandemic amid continued ridership drops

Utah Transit Authority officials on Wednesday released all sorts of internal information to show Utahns how they plan to move forward amid sharp drops in ridership due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the data and safety protocols released in a new online storyboard are information the agency had internally but had not been made public, said UTA spokesperson Carl Arky. In a statement, the agency said that the webpage offers the latest ridership and financial information, as well as safety and sanitation procedures. UTA’s "Recovery Plan" is one of the documents featured on the storyboard. It shows that UTA has a color-coded risk dial that mirrors Utah’s COVID-19 system. — Carter Williams, KSL.com

Wednesday, 10:11pm

Utah legislative leaders call for voluntary mask-wearing instead of state mandate ahead of Herbert decision

Utah Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Brad Wilson voiced opposition to a state mask mandate on Wednesday ahead of Gov. Gary Herbert’s expected Thursday decision about the mandate. The statements — which encourage Utahns to wear masks on their own — come one day after Adams and Wilson met with Hebert, who is also weighing calls from local government and business leaders to enact an order for people to wear face masks in public places where social distancing is not possible. “The simple act of wearing a mask protects the vulnerable, keeps Utahns working, allows businesses to stay open, and prevents our health care systems from being overwhelmed,” Adams wrote in a statement released on Wednesday. “Mandating masks raises questions of enforcement and punishment.” — Lauren Bennett, KSL.com

Wednesday, 02:40pm

Utah sees new single-day COVID-19 record of 722 cases, 7 more deaths

Utah saw another disheartening COVID-19 day Wednesday with 722 new cases — the most in a single day since the pandemic began — as well as seven more deaths from the disease. "Today’s positive case counts represent another daily record, and further reinforce the need for Utah residents to be taking the appropriate precautions to protect themselves and those around them," health department state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn said in a statement Wednesday. "Please, wear a mask in public, practice physical distancing, stay home if you are sick, and wash your hands regularly. We are all part of the solution." For a full analysis of Utah's COVID-19 cases, click here. —Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Wednesday, 02:40pm

Trump threatens to cut federal aid if schools don't reopen

President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to withhold federal funding if schools don’t reopen in the fall, and he lashed out at federal health officials over school reopening guidelines that he says are impractical and expensive. The Trump administration has pushed for a full reopening of the nation's schools, with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos saying anything less would be a failure. But some of the nation's largest districts plan to bring back limited numbers of students for only a few days a week, saying it would be unsafe for all students to return at once. —Associated Press

Wednesday, 02:40pm

'A hot mess': Americans face testing delays as virus surges to over 3 million

Four months, 3 million confirmed infections and over 130,000 deaths into the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., Americans confronted with a resurgence of the scourge are facing long lines at testing sites in the summer heat or are getting turned away. Others are going a week or more without receiving a diagnosis. Some sites are running out of kits, while labs are reporting shortages of materials and workers to process the swabs. Some frustrated Americans are left to wonder why the U.S. can't seem to get its act together, especially after it was given fair warning as the virus wreaked havoc in China and then Italy, Spain and New York. —Associated Press

Wednesday, 11:26am

What will back to school look like in Utah? Parental feedback decides

There are still a lot of unknowns, but local school boards are moving ahead with plans to reopen public schools this fall and have road maps in place by Aug. 1. It won’t be business as usual, and among the handful of school districts that have released their strategies, many appear to be leaning toward a mix of in-classroom and digital learning. For parents who prefer not to send their children to in-school learning, districts are also planning options that are solely distance learning. — Marjorie Cortez, KSL

Wednesday, 11:26am

Salt Lake County to resume free drive-thru COVID-19 testing this week

Salt Lake County will resume its free drive-thru COVID-19 testing efforts this week in areas disproportionately affected by the virus. “We chose to suspend testing for a week after we were inundated with individuals ... from outside of those target areas,” Gary Edwards, executive director of the Salt Lake County Health Department, said during a Salt Lake City Council work meeting Tuesday. “We really want the focus to be on those communities, so we’ve strategized, rethought our efforts and testing efforts will begin resuming this week.” — Mack Jones, KSL

Wednesday, 11:26am

Major League Rugby, Westminster College among 50K Utah businesses receiving PPP loans

Three professional sports organizations, a college conference and a handful of schools and universities with ties to Utah were among the 50,000 loans given to Utah-based businesses as part of the Paycheck Protection Program, according to a report by the U.S. Small Business Administration released this week. In all, about 800,000 jobs were saved for Utah employees, the SBA reported, with $5.2 billion allocated to local businesses. — Sean Walker, KSL.com

Wednesday, 09:02am

COVID-19 survivor still can’t smell or taste 4 months later

A Davis County man who had COVID-19 back in early March said the virus hit him hard and he is still dealing with puzzling and persistent problems. Matt Newey, 23, felt fortunate that he’s nearly back to normal, but he looks forward to the day he can enjoy food again. — Jed Boal, KSL TV

Wednesday, 09:02am

Harvard, MIT sue to block ICE rule on international students

Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday challenging the Trump administration's decision to bar international students from staying in the U.S. if they take classes entirely online this fall. The lawsuit, filed in Boston's federal court, seeks to prevent federal immigration authorities from enforcing the rule. — Associated Press

Wednesday, 07:04am

Firefighters adding COVID-19 safety protocols during busy fire season

Wildfire crews will have to follow new protocols this season to prevent spreading COVID-19 as they fight flames across Utah. Keeping fire crews healthy and away from coronavirus is a big part of firefighters' jobs this year. “It’s been very challenging,” said Tracy Dunford, the safety coordinator for Utah’s Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. “If we start spreading this through fire crews, fire resources, the fire community, we’re going to lose a lot of capacity to do this job. So, not only do we not want to get people sick or spread it into the community, we want to maintain that workforce.” — Alex Cabrero, KSL TV

Wednesday, 07:04am

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases increased by 564 on Tuesday, with four new reported deaths, according to the Utah Department of Health.

The Utah Hospital Association called on Utah Gov. Gary Herbert to implement a statewide mandatory mask order on Tuesday and is expected to make a decision on the order this week.

Utah Sen. Mitt Romney introduced a bipartisan bill to help prepare the country for future disease outbreaks.

The Utah State Fair Board voted unanimously Monday to continue fair events this September with adjustments that will make it vastly different from past years.

Read all of yesterday's COVID-19 news here

Coronavirus updates: Record new 722 cases, 7 more deaths; Trump threatens federal aid for schools that don't reopen

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - July 8, 2020 at 10:14 p.m. | Posted - July 8, 2020 at 7:04 a.m.

(Jeffrey D. Allred, KSL, File)

UTA reveals data, plans to move forward through pandemic amid continued ridership drops

Utah legislative leaders call for voluntary mask-wearing instead of state mandate ahead of Herbert decision

Utah sees new single-day COVID-19 record of 722 cases, 7 more deaths

Trump threatens to cut federal aid if schools don't reopen

'A hot mess': Americans face testing delays as virus surges to over 3 million

What will back to school look like in Utah? Parental feedback decides

Salt Lake County to resume free drive-thru COVID-19 testing this week

Major League Rugby, Westminster College among 50K Utah businesses receiving PPP loans

COVID-19 survivor still can’t smell or taste 4 months later

Harvard, MIT sue to block ICE rule on international students

Firefighters adding COVID-19 safety protocols during busy fire season

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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