Coronavirus updates: 338 cases, 2 deaths reported; interest in homeschooling explodes

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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, 09:35 pm

University of Utah athletics dept. to face $50-60 million shortfall without fall sports

The University of Utah athletics department is set to lose approximately $50-60 million or more on a $91 million yearly budget following the Pac-12’s decision to postpone fall sports Tuesday.The decision is a costly one but necessary, according to Utah Athletics Director Mark Harlan, to ensure the safety of the athletes under his care amid a still uncertain coronavirus pandemic. But that doesn’t make the decision any easier to make cuts in the department."There is an economic impact of this, and certainly we're not surprised that we're in this position," Harlan said in a Zoom video call with media Wednesday afternoon. "It's something that was always a possibility, and as such, our team has been planning for this possible outcome. ... We understand that that is going to cause us to have to make some very difficult decisions as it relates to the operation of our department.— Josh Furlong, KSL.com

Wednesday, 09:34 pm

Report shows no major progress on Utah homelessness as COVID-19 impacts loom

In Utah’s first report on homelessness since the state’s most populous county saw a monumental shift in homeless services, the data still doesn’t show any major progress in the multimillion-dollar effort to provide shelter for those in need.Rather, the overall number of Utahns experiencing homelessness on a single night in January, also known as the Point-in-Time count, increased by 12% compared to 2019, from 2,798 people to 3,131.However, state officials attribute that 333-person jump to increased effort and coordination from communities across the state to find and count unsheltered individuals, rather than necessarily a bump in actual homelessness.“Additional coordination and participation make it difficult to determine how much of the increase in the (Point-in-Time count) is a genuine increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness on a given night and how much is simply a more accurate representation of existing homelessness in Utah,” the report states.— Katie McKellar, KSL

Wednesday, 09:31 pm

Bingham-Weber football opener canceled following 3 positive tests for COVID-19

One day before the high school football season kicked off in Utah, a team has already canceled at least one game due to COVID-19 restrictions.Friday’s opener between Bingham and Weber has been canceled, a spokesperson for the Jordan School District confirmed to KSL. Three players tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the district said, and has canceled the contest out of an abundance of caution. Under current contact tracing protocols established by the CDC, anyone with direct contact to a confirmed positive case will be quarantined for two weeks, or roughly the life of the virus.The Miners were scheduled to host the Warriors at 7 p.m. MT Friday.— Sean Walker, KSL.com

Wednesday, 02:53 pm

Utah reports 338 more COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths Wednesday as testing remains low

Utah's number of new COVID-19 cases is staying low, but the number of tests conducted is also low.Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases increased by 338 from Tuesday, with two more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health. The number of tests conducted increased by 2,660 as of Wednesday, according to the health department.The state now estimates there are 9,428 active cases of COVID-19 in Utah as of Wednesday. The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now at 389, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that time period is now 8.6%.For a full analysis of Utah's daily COVID-19 numbers, click here. —Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Wednesday, 10:50 am

Interest in homeschooling has 'exploded' amid pandemic

As parents nationwide prepare to help their children with more distance learning, a small but quickly growing number are deciding to take matters entirely into their own hands and begin homeschooling.Some are worried their districts are unable to offer a strong virtual learning program. For others who may have been considering homeschooling, concerns for their family's health amid the coronavirus and the on-again, off-again planning for in-person instruction are leading them to part ways with school systems.— Associated Press

Wednesday, 10:50 am

Parents, players upset after Lone Peak High girls soccer team quarantined

A Utah County high school soccer team has been ordered to quarantine after one player tested positive for COVID-19, and some parents and players weren’t happy about it. They believe it could have been handled much differently.“I was very upset. I was very hurt,” said Emma Jenkins, captain of the varsity girls soccer team at Lone Peak High School in Highland. “It just doesn’t really make sense to me. There is not a lot of logic.”—Dan Rascon, KSL TV

Wednesday, 07:08 am

Companies test antibody drugs to treat, prevent COVID-19

With a coronavirus vaccine still months off, companies are rushing to test what may be the next best thing: drugs that deliver antibodies to fight the virus right away, without having to train the immune system to make them.Antibodies are proteins the body makes when an infection occurs; they attach to a virus and help it be eliminated. Vaccines work by tricking the body into thinking there’s an infection so it makes antibodies and remembers how to do that if the real bug turns up.But it can take a month or two after vaccination or infection for the most effective antibodies to form.— Associated Press

Wednesday, 07:08 am

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases increased by 362 Tuesday, with four more deaths reported.

The Pac-12 postponed all sports competitions and will look to a potential spring start.

Russia became the first country to approve a coronavirus vaccine, a move that was met with international skepticism because the shots have only been studied in dozens of people.

Board members met to discuss the “return to learn” plan for Alpine School District, and a few dozen teachers gathered to voice their concerns.

A video of a packed dance party in Provo last week has gone viral online, with many people wondering why the Utah County Health Department did not shut it down.

It took six months for the world to reach 10 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus. It took just over six weeks for that number to double.

Read all of yesterday's updates here.

Coronavirus updates: 338 cases, 2 deaths reported; interest in homeschooling explodes

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - Aug. 12, 2020 at 9:46 p.m. | Posted - Aug. 12, 2020 at 7:10 a.m.

(John Locher, AP Photo, File)

University of Utah athletics dept. to face $50-60 million shortfall without fall sports

Report shows no major progress on Utah homelessness as COVID-19 impacts loom

Bingham-Weber football opener canceled following 3 positive tests for COVID-19

Utah reports 338 more COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths Wednesday as testing remains low

Interest in homeschooling has 'exploded' amid pandemic

Parents, players upset after Lone Peak High girls soccer team quarantined

Companies test antibody drugs to treat, prevent COVID-19

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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Coronavirus updates: 338 cases, 2 deaths reported; interest in homeschooling explodes

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - Aug. 12, 2020 at 9:46 p.m. | Posted - Aug. 12, 2020 at 7:10 a.m.

(John Locher, AP Photo, File)

University of Utah athletics dept. to face $50-60 million shortfall without fall sports

Report shows no major progress on Utah homelessness as COVID-19 impacts loom

Bingham-Weber football opener canceled following 3 positive tests for COVID-19

Utah reports 338 more COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths Wednesday as testing remains low

Interest in homeschooling has 'exploded' amid pandemic

Parents, players upset after Lone Peak High girls soccer team quarantined

Companies test antibody drugs to treat, prevent COVID-19

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

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