Coronavirus updates: 339 cases, 6 new deaths; Russia behind spread of disinformation, US says

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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, 10:32 pm

Susie Boyce: 'Welcome to the pandemic!' My COVID-19 experience

During the first week of July, I started experiencing severe fatigue, a sharp uptick in headaches, and a feeling of significant discombobulation (i.e. brain fog). To top that off, my seasonal allergies were having a veritable hay day.A logical person would add my symptoms to a worldwide pandemic to the road trip I took in June and conclude that I had probably contracted COVID-19.Logic isn’t necessarily my strong suit. Road tripping, for all its awesomeness, has exacted a requisite toll on me ever since I suffered a brain injury in an accident seven years ago. I always pay a physical price and need a week or two to "recover." This price generally involves my brain not functioning well, having severe headaches, and needing lots and lots of sleep.So I figured I was just paying my road-tripping price, albeit for much longer than usual. Brain injury recovery is anything but predictable, so not much surprises me anymore.— Susie Boyce, KSL.com Contributor

Wednesday, 10:31 pm

Ogden, Iron County districts delay school reopenings; Weber approves shorter school day

If an extra week makes a difference in stemming the spread of COVID-19, the Ogden School District is doing what it can to help curb that tide.The Ogden school board voted in special session Wednesday evening to delay the start of the upcoming school year.The board voted unanimously to push the start of school from Aug. 20 to Aug. 26; the first three days of school will be half-day schedules while students, administrators and teachers work to implement new protocols under the Keeping Ogden Healthy plan.“This would allow students and staff to focus and adjust to the new processes, protocols and procedures,” Ogden superintendent Rich Nye wrote in a presentation to the seven-member board. “Staff would debrief the second half of each day to determine what went well, what didn’t go well, and what adjustments need to be made before students return the next day.”— Sean Walker, KSL.com

Wednesday, 01:31 pm

339 more COVID-19 cases, 6 deaths reported in Utah Wednesday

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 339 from Tuesday, with six more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now at 511, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that time period is now 9.6%.Wednesday totals give Utah 39,194 total confirmed cases, with 2,324 total hospitalizations and 292 total deaths from the disease.— Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Wednesday, 11:00 am

What can Utah learn from how other areas of the world managed COVID-19?

Utah has improved its uptick in recent weeks but still remains above Gov. Gary Herbert's July 9 challenge to get its rolling seven-day average of new cases below 500 per day by the start of August. The Utah Department of Health reported the average was 541, as of Tuesday.As Utah looks to wrangle COVID-19 cases, experts say there are lessons that can be learned from New York, other states and other countries that have found ways to manage the novel coronavirus even after harsher outbreaks.Here's a look into how they've done it.— Carter Williams, KSL.com

Wednesday, 07:09 am

Fed wrestles with its next moves as virus stalls US economy

Federal Reserve officials are grappling this week with the timing and scope of their next policy moves at a time when the raging viral pandemic has weakened the U.S. economy.No major changes are likely when the Fed releases a statement Wednesday after its two-day policy meeting ends and just before Chair Jerome Powell holds a news conference.But the central bank is working toward providing more specific guidance on the conditions it would need to see before considering raising its benchmark short-term interest rate, which is now pegged near zero.— Associated Press

Wednesday, 07:08 am

US officials: Russia behind spread of virus disinformation

Russian intelligence services are using a trio of English-language websites to spread disinformation about the coronavirus pandemic, seeking to exploit a crisis that America is struggling to contain ahead of the presidential election in November, U.S. officials said Tuesday.Two Russians who have held senior roles in Moscow’s military intelligence service known as the GRU have been identified as responsible for a disinformation effort meant to reach American and Western audiences, U.S. government officials said. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.— Associated Press

Wednesday, 07:08 am

Trump defends disproved COVID-19 treatment

President Donald Trump issued a stout defense Tuesday of a disproved use of a malaria drug as a treatment for the coronavirus, hours after social media companies moved to take down videos promoting its use as potentially harmful misinformation.The president, in a marked shift from the more measured approach he’s taken toward the virus in recent days, took to Twitter to promote hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, and to amplify criticism of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert.In a White House briefing, Trump defended his decision to promote a viral video of a group of doctors promoting the use of the drug Monday, even though his own administration withdrew emergency authorization for its use against the coronavirus.— Associated Press

Wednesday, 07:08 am

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

With 446 new Utah COVID-19 cases and 5 deaths reported Tuesday, Gov. Gary Herbert’s goal to see cases drop below a 500-per-day average by Aug. 1 is still within reach.

Salt Lake County small businesses still struggling due to the effects of the coronavirus shutdown have another chance to receive sorely needed financial aid to keep their operations going.

States are resisting mask mandates as coronavirus upticks stir alarm.

With hundreds of teachers nervous to return to the classroom — and some high-risk educators even saying they may retire rather than return too early — leaders of the Utah Education Association are calling on state leaders to delay the start of the upcoming school year or push it online for the first several weeks of the semester.

Read all of yesterday's COVID-19 news here

Coronavirus updates: 339 cases, 6 new deaths; Russia behind spread of disinformation, US says

By KSL Staff | Updated - July 29, 2020 at 10:52 p.m. | Posted - July 29, 2020 at 7:09 a.m.

(KSL TV)

Susie Boyce: 'Welcome to the pandemic!' My COVID-19 experience

Ogden, Iron County districts delay school reopenings; Weber approves shorter school day

339 more COVID-19 cases, 6 deaths reported in Utah Wednesday

What can Utah learn from how other areas of the world managed COVID-19?

Fed wrestles with its next moves as virus stalls US economy

US officials: Russia behind spread of virus disinformation

Trump defends disproved COVID-19 treatment

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Most recent Coronavirus stories

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Coronavirus updates: 339 cases, 6 new deaths; Russia behind spread of disinformation, US says

By KSL Staff | Updated - July 29, 2020 at 10:52 p.m. | Posted - July 29, 2020 at 7:09 a.m.

(KSL TV)

Susie Boyce: 'Welcome to the pandemic!' My COVID-19 experience

Ogden, Iron County districts delay school reopenings; Weber approves shorter school day

339 more COVID-19 cases, 6 deaths reported in Utah Wednesday

What can Utah learn from how other areas of the world managed COVID-19?

Fed wrestles with its next moves as virus stalls US economy

US officials: Russia behind spread of virus disinformation

Trump defends disproved COVID-19 treatment

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Most recent Coronavirus stories

FDA memo links 10 child deaths to COVID vaccines

Moderna says next-generation COVID-19 shot shows strong immune response in patients

Vaccine advisers abandon broad COVID-19 shot support

Related topics

More stories you may be interested in

Criminal or hero? Trial starts for Utah doc accused of selling COVID cards, destroying vaccines

Novavax shares jump after long-awaited FDA approval of COVID-19 vaccine

From entrepreneurship to philanthropy: Thread Wallet's inspiring path

KSL Weather Forecast