Coronavirus updates: 486 new cases, 4 deaths; virus concerns nudge some teachers toward classroom exits

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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.

Tuesday, 09:46 pm

Virus concerns nudge some teachers toward classroom exits

As pressure mounts for teachers to return to their classrooms this fall, concerns about health risks from the coronavirus are pushing many toward alternatives, including career changes, as others mobilize to delay school reopenings in hard-hit areas.

Among those opting for early retirement is Liza McArdle, a 50-year-old high school language instructor in New Boston, Michigan. She considered the health risks and the looming instructional challenges — trying to teach French and Spanish with a mask obstructing her enunciation, or perhaps a return to virtual learning — and decided it was time to go.— Associated Press

Tuesday, 09:12 pm

COVID-19 takes a bite out of West Nile Virus testing

Testing for West Nile Virus in Utah this season has been a fraction of what it was last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Mosquito abatement districts and health departments said they’ve shifted resources away from West Nile Virus out of necessity to help in the coronavirus response.“Fortunately, this year, we’re just not seeing as many positive mosquito pools out there,” said Ary Faraji, executive director and entomologist for the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District.— Jed Boal, KSL TV

Tuesday, 07:46 pm

COVID-19 county stories: Daggett and Wayne stay coronavirus-free; early data favors masks

An update to COVID-19 cases in Utah's counties, including where the coronavirus is spreading, where it's not, and what role mask mandates have played in slowing the virus.Find out what's happening in your county here.— Carter Williams, KSL.com

Tuesday, 07:32 pm

A whole new look, for a whole new NBA game experience

There’s no bench. The courtside broadcasters will not be courtside. And the stat crew will be doing their work inside what loosely can be described as an oversized hockey penalty box.The NBA comes back Wednesday with a very different look.The league’s marketing motto for the restart of the season at Walt Disney World is “Whole New Game,” and in many respects, that’s very true. The arenas that will be used for the exhibitions, the seeding games that start July 30 and then the playoffs that are scheduled for mid-August through mid-October set up much differently than usual — all with safety during a pandemic very much in mind.— Associated Press

Tuesday, 06:21 pm

GOP splits as coronavirus aid package could swell past $1 trillion

The price tag for the next COVID-19 aid package could quickly swell above $1 trillion as White House officials negotiate with Congress over money to reopen schools, prop up small businesses, boost virus testing and keep cash flowing to Americans while the virus crisis deepens in the U.S.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday promised a new round of direct payments to earners below a certain income level, similar to the $1,200 checks sent in the spring. President Donald Trump insists on a payroll tax holiday for workers. And Democrats want billions to outfit schools and shore up local governments.

— Associated Press

Tuesday, 5:55 pm

Trump says virus in US will get worse before it gets better

President Donald Trump sought to paint a rosier picture of the coronavirus for the nation Tuesday but conceded the pandemic is likely to get worse for a time as he revived his daily briefings with an eye to halting a campaign-season erosion of support as new cases spike across the country.“It will probably unfortunately get worse before it gets better," Trump said from the White House, but he also touted a reduction in deaths and progress on vaccines and treatments for COVID-19, which Trump referred to repeatedly as a the “China virus.” He also continued his belated encouragement of Americans to wear masks when social distancing is not possible, “Whether you like the mask or not, they have an impact."— Associated Press

Tuesday, 5:22 pm

As school districts plan to reopen, are teachers' health, safety concerns adequately addressed?

It’s not that teachers don’t want to return to work.But after countless conversations with administrators and school board members, the president of the Canyons Education Association says she feels like many teachers' concerns aren’t being heard — or at worst, are being ignored — as districts make plans to reopen Utah schools in the fall.“We obviously care about our students, and want to be in the classroom with them,” said Erika Bradshaw, who teaches math at Hillcrest High School. “But we are really concerned about our safety and the safety of our loved ones.”Read the full story here.— Sean Walker, KSL.com

Tuesday, 02:22 pm

Do congressional Republicans favor another round of stimulus checks?

Congressional Republicans aren’t inclined to include another stimulus check in the next federal coronavirus relief package now under negotiation, Sen. Mitt Romney said Tuesday.But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., indicated just the opposite on the Senate floor.“I think most of the Republicans in the Senate and in the House are not enthusiastic about another check of that nature,” Romney said Tuesday on KSL NewsRadio’s “Dave and Dujanovic” show. “But I did see that the White House is encouraging us to do that.”—Dennis Romboy, KSL.com

Tuesday, 02:19 pm

486 more COVID-19 cases, 4 deaths reported in Utah Tuesday as active cases decline

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 486 from Monday, with four more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.Estimated active cases of the disease have now declined for the second day in a row. That is the first time such a back-to-back decline has been seen since May 26, according to the state's data.The health department now estimates there are 12,730 active COVID-19 cases in Utah. Sunday, there were 13,013 active cases, and on Monday there were 12,829, according to the health department's estimates.The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now at 609.6, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that time period is now 9.6%.For a full analysis of Utah's daily COVID-19 numbers, click here.—Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Tuesday, 02:17 pm

Politicians and business interests pushed health officials aside to control reopening. Then cases exploded.

Back in April, when public health officials were still helping lead Utah’s response to the coronavirus, the spread of the disease had slowed, stabilizing at fewer than 200 reported cases a day.Then came a shift in power, and priorities.Email correspondence and interviews with more than a dozen state and local officials in Utah show that the health of the state’s businesses was prioritized over the health of the public, as officials stopped slowing the spread of the virus and instead calculated how many sick people its health system could bear.With key health experts cut out of the decision-making process, including the state epidemiologist and local officials who were stripped of their ability to issue their own restrictions, the governor and the commission quickly swept aside restrictions meant to slow the virus’s advance in Utah.—ProPublica

Tuesday, 10:50 am

US virus aid far off as EU digs deep to aid ailing economies

U.S. lawmakers remained far apart Tuesday on a deal to provide more financial relief for Americans as European leaders thrashed out a plan for their pandemic-ravaged economies.Weary after four days and nights of haggling, European Union leaders clinched an unprecedented 1.8 trillion euro ($2.1 trillion) budget and coronavirus recovery fund to confront the biggest recession in the history of the region, which faces an estimated economic contraction of 8.3%.Congressional Republicans remained at odds with Democrats over how much money is enough to ease the financial burden as businesses endure repeated closures to contain the spread of the virus.Democrats have passed a $3 trillion package in the House. The Republican plan totals about $1 trillion.— Associated Press

Tuesday, 10:50 am

Ogden School District to return to class Aug. 20 with laptops for home and school

Ogden students will return to the classroom this fall, but things won’t look normal.The district will resume classes Aug. 20 in classrooms for the first time since Gov. Gary Herbert instituted a statewide soft closure of K-12 schools in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, with an added emphasis on digital or online learning that includes the use of a personal laptop for every student, the district announced following Monday night's board meeting.— Sean Walker, KSL.com

Tuesday, 10:39 am

Police warn against being 'mask enforcers' after alleged assault

A Taylorsville woman claims she was assaulted for not wearing a mask at a Park City Walmart. Police are now searching for the suspect.The 47-year-old woman told police that when she entered the Walmart on Saturday, a man started screaming at her and shouted, “Thanks for not wearing a mask.”Investigators said he then started to ram his cart into her cart.— Dan Rascon, KSL TV

Tuesday, 07:16 am

He’s back: Trump to re-up virus briefings amid lagging polls

President Donald Trump is set to once again take center stage in the government’s coronavirus response after a White House debate over how best to deploy its greatest and most volatile asset — him — played out in public as his poll numbers falter.One week after a campaign shake-up, the plan is for Trump to again become a regular public presence at the podium starting Tuesday as confirmed coronavirus cases spike nationwide.— Associated Press

Tuesday, 07:16 am

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases increased by 409 on Monday, with four more deaths reported.

Scientists at Oxford University say their experimental coronavirus vaccine has been shown in an early trial to prompt a protective immune response in hundreds of people who got the shot.

President Donald Trump acknowledged Monday a “big flare up” of COVID-19 cases, but divisions between the White House and Senate Republicans and differences with Democrats posed fresh challenges for a new federal aid package with the U.S. crisis worsening and emergency relief about to expire.

Read all of yesterday's coronavirus news here.

Coronavirus updates: 486 new cases, 4 deaths; virus concerns nudge some teachers toward classroom exits

By KSL | Updated - July 21, 2020 at 10:14 p.m. | Posted - July 21, 2020 at 7:16 a.m.

(Jeffrey D. Allred, KSL, File)

Virus concerns nudge some teachers toward classroom exits

COVID-19 takes a bite out of West Nile Virus testing

COVID-19 county stories: Daggett and Wayne stay coronavirus-free; early data favors masks

A whole new look, for a whole new NBA game experience

GOP splits as coronavirus aid package could swell past $1 trillion

Trump says virus in US will get worse before it gets better

As school districts plan to reopen, are teachers' health, safety concerns adequately addressed?

Do congressional Republicans favor another round of stimulus checks?

486 more COVID-19 cases, 4 deaths reported in Utah Tuesday as active cases decline

Politicians and business interests pushed health officials aside to control reopening. Then cases exploded.

US virus aid far off as EU digs deep to aid ailing economies

Ogden School District to return to class Aug. 20 with laptops for home and school

Police warn against being 'mask enforcers' after alleged assault

He’s back: Trump to re-up virus briefings amid lagging polls

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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Coronavirus updates: 486 new cases, 4 deaths; virus concerns nudge some teachers toward classroom exits

By KSL | Updated - July 21, 2020 at 10:14 p.m. | Posted - July 21, 2020 at 7:16 a.m.

(Jeffrey D. Allred, KSL, File)

Virus concerns nudge some teachers toward classroom exits

COVID-19 takes a bite out of West Nile Virus testing

COVID-19 county stories: Daggett and Wayne stay coronavirus-free; early data favors masks

A whole new look, for a whole new NBA game experience

GOP splits as coronavirus aid package could swell past $1 trillion

Trump says virus in US will get worse before it gets better

As school districts plan to reopen, are teachers' health, safety concerns adequately addressed?

Safe at home? Social distancing difficult around MLB plates

Do congressional Republicans favor another round of stimulus checks?

486 more COVID-19 cases, 4 deaths reported in Utah Tuesday as active cases decline

Politicians and business interests pushed health officials aside to control reopening. Then cases exploded.

US virus aid far off as EU digs deep to aid ailing economies

Ogden School District to return to class Aug. 20 with laptops for home and school

Police warn against being 'mask enforcers' after alleged assault

He’s back: Trump to re-up virus briefings amid lagging polls

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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Utah Teacher of the Year recipient dies unexpectedly weeks after award ceremony

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'Nothing out of the ordinary' before SUU helicopter crash, report says

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