Coronavirus updates: COVID-19 case info difficult to get from schools; wastewater website helps track virus

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

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Friday, 10:33 pm

Want info on COVID-19 at your child’s school? Good luck

Parents across the state have expressed frustration that they’re trying to make educational decisions based on information that is often hard to find, nonexistent or constantly changing. While the state has plans to provide some school-related COVID-19 information on its website later this month, exactly what will be available is still being debated.Meanwhile, parents are at the mercy of schools and school districts — most of which are choosing not to give parents information about their COVID-19 cases unless their children have been directly exposed.— Amy Donaldson, KSL

Friday, 10:16 pm

Want to track Utah’s COVID-19 rates in wastewater? There’s a website for that

Utahns have had access to daily COVID-19 case rates since the beginning of the pandemic but the No. 2 way to trace the coronavirus continues to be easier to track than ever.Yes, we’re talking about human waste, which is beginning to take over as a leading solution to track COVID-19 rates in a less-invasive way.— Carter Williams, KLS.com

Friday, 04:09 pm

COVID-19 case reported at Union High School

A COVID-19 case was confirmed at Union High School on Friday bringing Duchesne County School District to two cases in the district, officials said.Anyone who was in close contact for an extended period of time with the individual who tested positive will be contacted by the TriCounty Health Department.

Friday, 04:00 pm

Utah reports 513 more COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases increased by 513 on Friday, with five more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.The state now estimates there are 7,873 active cases of the disease in Utah. The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now at 411, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that time period is now 9.4%.The seven-day average has regressed back past the goal Utah Gov. Gary Herbert set for the state last month. Herbert wanted to see the seven-day average of new cases drop below 400 per day by Sept. 1. The state met that goal last month well before Sept. 1, but now Utah has regressed back to seeing a higher average.— Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Friday, 01:10 pm

Granite School District will publish current COVID-19 case counts for individual schools weekly

Granite School District announced that it would publish current COVID-19 case counts for individual school buildings "in the interest of transparency and providing information to parents/guardians so they can make decisions in the best interest of their family," an email from Granite School District's Ben Horsely said.Case numbers will be updated on a weekly basis following confirmation from the Utah Department of Health, and will be published at the district's COVID-19 informational website.The district will not publish the grade level, class or staff position of those who tested positive in order to protect their personal health history, the email states; however, students or staff with direct exposure, including shared classes or visitation to communal areas, will be notified directly of public health department quarantine guidance.Granite Board of Education president Karyn Winder clarified the change with a statement, "We believe this extra layer transparency is critical in helping our parents make appropriate decisions for their kids."— Katie Workman, KSL.com

Friday, 12:57 pm

Utah State Liquor stores can reopen with reasonable precautions under phase yellow

The entire state of Utah will now be on the yellow or green risk level following Gov. Gary Herbert's announcement that counties remaining on orange risk level will transition to yellow on Friday, his office confirmed.For Utah State Liquor and Wine stores, this means services can resume similarly to those before COVID-19 with several additional precautions based upon guidelines by the Utah Department of Health.Namely, face coverings will be encouraged, aisles will be designated as one way only, and employees and administers should receive temperature checks upon entry. High-touch surfaces will also be disinfected frequently, handwashing and hand sanitization should remain consistent, handshakes are discouraged, and registers will be opened as needed to reduce lines.Store occupancy will return to its pre-COVID levels, but social distancing is required.— Katie Workman, KSL.com

Friday, 12:44 pm

24 BYU students asked to quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19 at dorm gathering

Brigham Young University officials have confirmed 40 COVID-19 cases on campus so far since the semester started, and 24 students have been asked to quarantine after being exposed to the disease at Helaman Halls.Students at Helaman Halls were exposed to the disease at a gathering where they did not maintain physical distancing, BYU said Friday in a series of tweets. The students have been instructed to quarantine, and the university will continue asking students who have attended gatherings that are not compliant with safety recommendations to quarantine.BYU stated that noncompliance issues will be dealt with by the Dean of Students Office, and a variety of factors will determine if the university pivots to remote learning, including "disease prevalence on and off campus, local hospital capacity and BYU's capacity to isolate or quarantine those living on-campus."BYU also encouraged students to follow city and county mandates on and off campus amid the upcoming Labor Day weekend, and to refrain from bullying or shaming due to compliance or lack thereof.— Jacob Klopfenstein and Katie Workman, KSL.comCorrection: A previous version of this story stated that there were 24 confirmed COVID-19 cases at BYU instead of 24 students exposed to COVID-19. This has been corrected and the story has been updated.

Coronavirus updates: COVID-19 case info difficult to get from schools; wastewater website helps track virus

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - Sept. 4, 2020 at 10:38 p.m. | Posted - Sept. 4, 2020 at 1:29 p.m.

(Laura Seitz, KSL)

Want info on COVID-19 at your child’s school? Good luck

Want to track Utah’s COVID-19 rates in wastewater? There’s a website for that

COVID-19 case reported at Union High School

Utah reports 513 more COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths

Granite School District will publish current COVID-19 case counts for individual schools weekly

Utah State Liquor stores can reopen with reasonable precautions under phase yellow

24 BYU students asked to quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19 at dorm gathering

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Coronavirus updates: COVID-19 case info difficult to get from schools; wastewater website helps track virus

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - Sept. 4, 2020 at 10:38 p.m. | Posted - Sept. 4, 2020 at 1:29 p.m.

(Laura Seitz, KSL)

Want info on COVID-19 at your child’s school? Good luck

Want to track Utah’s COVID-19 rates in wastewater? There’s a website for that

COVID-19 case reported at Union High School

Utah reports 513 more COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths

Granite School District will publish current COVID-19 case counts for individual schools weekly

Utah State Liquor stores can reopen with reasonable precautions under phase yellow

24 BYU students asked to quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19 at dorm gathering

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