Coronavirus updates: 661 new COVID-19 cases Saturday; Sinclair pulls show where Fauci conspiracy theory is aired

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SALT LAKE CITY — Here are the latest updates on the COVID-19 pandemic in Utah and around the world.

If you're on a mobile device and can't see the updates below, click on this link.

Saturday, 08:03 pm

Mnuchin: Virus aid package soon, $1,200 checks by August

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Saturday that Republicans were set to roll out the next COVID-19 aid package Monday and assured there was backing from the White House after he and President Donald Trump's top aide met to salvage the $1 trillion proposal that had floundered just days before.Mnuchin told reporters at the Capitol that extending an expiring unemployment benefit — but reducing it substantially — was a top priority for Trump.The secretary also promised a fresh round of $1,200 stimulus checks would be coming in August.— Associated Press

Saturday, 05:04 pm

Sinclair pulls show where Fauci conspiracy theory is aired

The Sinclair Broadcast Group said Saturday it is pulling from the air an edition of its “America This Week” program that discusses a conspiracy theory involving Dr. Anthony Fauci and the coronavirus.Sinclair spokesman Michael Padovano said Sinclair hopes to add context and other viewpoints and still air the controversial segment on the next week's edition of “America This Week."Meanwhile, Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, talked in detail in a new podcast about the “serious threats” and hate mail directed his way.“America This Week” is hosted by Eric Bolling, a former Fox News Channel personality, and sent to stations Sinclair owns in 81 markets. The show it initially distributed for this weekend's show featured an interview with Judy Mikovits, maker of the widely discredited “Plandemic” video, and her lawyer, Larry Klayman.— Associated Press

Saturday, 04:33 pm

As tide turns, retailers that resisted masks relent

When the parent of Southern grocery chain Winn-Dixie said that it wasn't going to require customers to wear masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus, the response was brutal, with some loyal patrons vowing on social media never to shop there again.Days later, Winn-Dixie reversed course and said that it would mandate masks in states or localities that had no requirement.The about-face on Monday followed another highly-publicized reversal last month by AMC. Less than a day after the nation's largest movie theater chain said it would defer to local governments on whether masks should be worn, it came up with a new message in response to social media backlash: Customers who don’t wear masks won’t be admitted or allowed to stay.— Associated Press.

Saturday, 03:03 pm

Amid virus, uncertainty, parents decide how to school kids

As they decide how their children will learn this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic, parents are anxiously weighing the benefits of in-person instruction against the risks that schools could shut their doors again or that their children could contract the virus and pass it on. “To say we are stressed might be an understatement,” said Holly Davis, of Noblesville, Indiana, whose family is self-isolating after one of their daughters was exposed to COVID-19 at a cross country meet. “We’re being forced to make impossible decisions.”Read the full story here.— Associated Press

Saturday, 01:12 pm

661 new cases reported Saturday

The Utah Department of Health Saturday is reporting 661 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and one death from the disease in the state.The numbers bring Utah up to 37,623 total cases of the new coronavirus and 274 deaths since the pandemic began. The seven-day rolling average of new COVID-19 cases is now 615; Utah Gov. Gary Herbert had aimed to get that number below 500 by Aug. 1 or else consider imposing more restrictions on the state, but Friday's high case count made that goal more difficult.The seven-day rolling positive test percentage is at 9.2%.Currently, the health department says 202 Utahns are hospitalized due to the coronavirus, and 79 of those patients are in the intensive care unit.—Graham Dudley, KSL.com

Saturday, 09:09 am

Supreme Court denies Nevada church's appeal of virus rule

A sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court denied a rural Nevada church’s request late Friday to strike down as unconstitutional a 50-person cap on worship services as part of the state’s ongoing response to the coronavirus.In a 5-4 decision, the high court refused to grant the request from the Christian church east of Reno to be subjected to the same COVID-19 restrictions in Nevada that allow casinos, restaurants and other businesses to operate at 50% of capacity with proper social distancing.Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley argued that the hard cap on religious gatherings was an unconstitutional violation of its parishioners' First Amendment rights to express and exercise their beliefs.Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal majority in denying the request without explanation.—Associated Press

Saturday, 08:39 am

Salt Lake housing market bouncing back

After being among the hottest metro housing markets in the nation prior to the coronavirus outbreak, the Salt Lake City area became one of the areas most hurt by the pandemic.But the pain didn’t last for long, local real estate agents are finding. And national sales numbers released Friday showed sales of new homes rose a sharp 13.8% in June, the second straight increase after two months when sales plunged as the country went into lockdown because of the coronavirus.—Jasen Lee, KSL

Saturday, 08:39 am

ICYMI: Catch up on COVID-19 news from yesterday

Malls are struggling nationwide amid the pandemic, but The Gateway is innovating to make it through.

Gov. Gary Herbert urged "pioneering spirit" and perseverance as another 863 coronavirus cases and six deaths were reported on Friday.

The extra $600 tacked onto weekly unemployment benefits is getting set to expire.

Congress is still haggling over a new coronavirus response bill, but sought to address other matters this week as it plugs along amid the pandemic.

For more of Friday's coronavirus coverage, click here.

Coronavirus updates: 661 new COVID-19 cases Saturday; Sinclair pulls show where Fauci conspiracy theory is aired

By KSL Staff | Updated - July 25, 2020 at 8:11 p.m. | Posted - July 25, 2020 at 8:39 a.m.

(Spenser Heaps, KSL, File)

Mnuchin: Virus aid package soon, $1,200 checks by August

Sinclair pulls show where Fauci conspiracy theory is aired

As tide turns, retailers that resisted masks relent

Amid virus, uncertainty, parents decide how to school kids

661 new cases reported Saturday

Supreme Court denies Nevada church's appeal of virus rule

Salt Lake housing market bouncing back

ICYMI: Catch up on COVID-19 news from yesterday

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