Coronavirus updates: 164 new Utah COVID-19 cases; counties want Utah Supreme Court to rule on lawsuit

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SALT LAKE CITY — Here are the latest coronavirus-related updates from Utah and around the world.

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

Thursday, 06:52pm

Herbert moves Summit and Wasatch counties to yellow, low-risk COVID-19 phase

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert issued an executive order on Thursday moving Summit and Wasatch counties into the yellow, or low-risk, phase for COVID-19. The transition comes about one week after the majority of the state moved from moderate-risk to low-risk, as outlined in the state’s Utah Leads Together plan. The order is effective immediately, the governor’s office said. The counties initially didn’t transition into the yellow phase with the rest of the state on May 16 due to a higher number of cases in the area. — Lauren Bennett, KSL.com

Thursday, 04:58pm

Counties want Utah Supreme Court to rule on lawsuit seeking inmate releases

Utah’s county jails don’t want out of a lawsuit seeking the release of more inmates amid the threat of COVID-19 — at least not yet. They want the Utah Supreme Court to analyze the case and rule in their favor. Civil rights groups who waged the legal battle say they are now content with the precautions sheriffs have detailed in court filings. They have asked the Utah Supreme Court to dismiss the counties from their lawsuit as they train their eye on the state’s prison system. But the jails are resisting what Salt Lake County calls “a last-minute attempt to deflect from the petition’s legal and factual deficiencies.” Granting their request would allow the groups to sidestep analysis by the court, District Attorney Sim Gill argued in court papers filed Friday. — Annie Knox, KSL

Thursday, 04:56pm

Romney, Lee want DOJ to investigate Planned Parenthood ‘fraudulently’ getting PPP loans

Sens. Mike Lee and Mitt Romney want the Department of Justice to investigate whether dozens of Planned Parenthood affiliates across the country “fraudulently” received loans from the Paycheck Protection Program. The Utah senators are among two dozen Republicans who sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr on Thursday, saying the CARES Act prohibits organizations like Planned Parenthood from receiving PPP funds. The program was designed to help small businesses retain employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, Romney said in a tweet, adding the DOJ should investigate whether Planned Parenthood “fraudulently” applied for and received nearly $80 million in loans it was ineligible for. — Dennis Romboy, KSL

Thursday, 01:12pm

Utah sees 164 new cases of COVID-19, 2 more deaths

Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 164 from Wednesday, with two new reported deaths, according to the Utah Department of Health. Thursday’s totals give Utah 7,874 total confirmed cases, with 647 total hospitalizations and 92 total deaths from the disease. Previously, there were 7,710 cases in the state. The new numbers indicate a 2.1% increase in positive cases since Wednesday. Of the 182,874 tests conducted in Utah so far, 4.3% were positive for COVID-19. — Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Thursday, 12:55pm

Mitt Romney, senators urge U.S. to counter China’s ‘predatory’ economic activity amid COVID-19 pandemic

A bipartisan group of senators, including Utah Republican Mitt Romney, want the Trump administration to counter “disturbing” reports that China’s state-owned enterprises are exploiting the economic crisis by buying U.S. and foreign companies. As companies backed by the Chinese Communist Party approach banks to identify the purchase of companies in the U.S. and Europe affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the senators urged Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to guard against China’s “predatory” economic activity. — Dennis Romboy, KSL

Thursday, 10:50am

Cottonwood Heights cancels Butlerville Days

Butlerville Days, the city of Cottonwood Heights’s annual celebration honoring its founders, has been canceled for 2020. The festival was previously scheduled for July 17-18, but will not take place due to COVID-19 concerns. “The uncertainty of where the pandemic will be in July and the time it takes to put the event together, we came to this decision with safety on our minds,” Cottonwood Heights Mayor Mike Peterson said in a news release. “Keeping the safety of the public first and foremost we decided to cancel Butlerville Days for 2020.” The festival typically includes a parade, music performances, firework shows, booths, games, food vendors, rides and other events. — Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Thursday, 09:43am

Controversial Collin Raye concert will move to Grantsville, organizers say

The Utah Business Revival announced on Thursday that it will move a controversial Collin Raye concert originally planned for Kaysville to the Studio Ranch Amphitheater near Grantsville. In a press release, organizer Eric Moutsos said the change comes after pushback from city council members and residents over the Collin Raye show. Moutsos claims that someone made threats against those who would assemble in Kaysville as a part of “an effort to make government more powerful while blocking your rights.” — Colby Walker, KSL NewsRadio

Thursday, 09:41am

Cities sanitizing playgrounds as most of Utah moves to ‘low risk’

With many playgrounds reopening as most of Utah moves to the yellow or low-risk phase, cities are having to decide how to keep them safe for the public. When Salt Lake County eased restrictions and switched to the “low risk” phase, families flocked to their local parks. Laura Homer said she and her family were elated to hear the playground was back open at Wines Park in Lehi. “I was so excited,” she said. “My son has been asking me every day to go to the playground. Being at home this whole time was actually kind of hard because there’s only so much you can do to keep them entertained.” — Ashley Moser, KSL TV

Thursday, 07:50am

6K more Utahns file for unemployment benefits

The number of new Utahns filing for unemployment benefits was down for the sixth straight week, but thousands of people are still filing for benefits. Another 6,275 Utahns sought unemployment benefits last week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In the week of May 3-9, 7,135 people filed for unemployment benefits. — Jacob Klopfenstein, KSL.com

Thursday, 07:01am

Nearly 39 million have sought US jobless aid since virus hit

More than 2.4 million people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week in the latest wave of layoffs from the viral outbreak that triggered widespread business shutdowns two months ago and sent the economy into a deep recession. Roughly 38.6 million people have now filed for jobless aid since the coronavirus forced millions of businesses to close their doors and shrink their workforces, the Labor Department said Thursday. — Associated Press

Thursday, 07:01am

President Trump right to defund World Health Organization, Utah Sen. Mike Lee says

President Donald Trump is right to defund the World Health Organization, Sen. Mike Lee said Wednesday. “The U.S. should spend the taxpayer money wasted on WHO to provide relief from COVID-19 directly on those impacted instead,” Lee said on Twitter. The Utah Republican also called for Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director general, and his senior staff to resign. — Dennis Romboy, KSL

Thursday, 07:01am

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

The number of COVID-19 cases in Utah increased by 192 from Tuesday, with two new reported deaths, according to new Utah Department of Health figures released Wednesday.

The South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will reopen this weekend for limited entry and recreational access, park officials said Wednesday.

Demographers believe the COVID-19 pandemic will have some noticeable effects on Utah’s population makeup.

On Wednesday, state leaders introduced another version of their roadmap document — Utah Leads Together 3.0. The plan focuses on Utah's high-risk populations, racial and ethnic minority groups, and economic recovery.

Read all of yesterday's coronavirus coverage here.

Coronavirus updates: 164 new Utah COVID-19 cases; counties want Utah Supreme Court to rule on lawsuit

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - May 21, 2020 at 6:53 p.m. | Posted - May 21, 2020 at 7:03 a.m.

(Paul Sancya, AP Photo)

Herbert moves Summit and Wasatch counties to yellow, low-risk COVID-19 phase

Counties want Utah Supreme Court to rule on lawsuit seeking inmate releases

Romney, Lee want DOJ to investigate Planned Parenthood ‘fraudulently’ getting PPP loans

Utah sees 164 new cases of COVID-19, 2 more deaths

Mitt Romney, senators urge U.S. to counter China’s ‘predatory’ economic activity amid COVID-19 pandemic

Cottonwood Heights cancels Butlerville Days

Controversial Collin Raye concert will move to Grantsville, organizers say

Cities sanitizing playgrounds as most of Utah moves to ‘low risk’

6K more Utahns file for unemployment benefits

Nearly 39 million have sought US jobless aid since virus hit

President Trump right to defund World Health Organization, Utah Sen. Mike Lee says

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Most recent News stories

Related topics

More stories you may be interested in

New T.C. Christensen movie climbs to No. 11 at the domestic box office

The NHL is officially coming to Utah — what will the team name be?

Columbia president testifies before House on campus antisemitism

Most Viewed

STAY IN THE KNOW

KSL Weather Forecast

Coronavirus updates: 164 new Utah COVID-19 cases; counties want Utah Supreme Court to rule on lawsuit

By KSL.com Staff | Updated - May 21, 2020 at 6:53 p.m. | Posted - May 21, 2020 at 7:03 a.m.

(Paul Sancya, AP Photo)

Herbert moves Summit and Wasatch counties to yellow, low-risk COVID-19 phase

Counties want Utah Supreme Court to rule on lawsuit seeking inmate releases

Romney, Lee want DOJ to investigate Planned Parenthood ‘fraudulently’ getting PPP loans

Utah sees 164 new cases of COVID-19, 2 more deaths

Mitt Romney, senators urge U.S. to counter China’s ‘predatory’ economic activity amid COVID-19 pandemic

Cottonwood Heights cancels Butlerville Days

Controversial Collin Raye concert will move to Grantsville, organizers say

Cities sanitizing playgrounds as most of Utah moves to ‘low risk’

6K more Utahns file for unemployment benefits

Nearly 39 million have sought US jobless aid since virus hit

President Trump right to defund World Health Organization, Utah Sen. Mike Lee says

ICYMI: Catch up on coronavirus developments from yesterday

Most recent News stories

Red Rocks win semifinal meet as reigning champs Oklahoma miss out

Lee, Romney propose extension for downwinders compensation without expanding coverage

Iran fires air defense batteries in provinces as sound of explosions heard near Isfahan

Related topics

More stories you may be interested in

New T.C. Christensen movie climbs to No. 11 at the domestic box office

The NHL is officially coming to Utah — what will the team name be?

Columbia president testifies before House on campus antisemitism

Most Viewed

STAY IN THE KNOW

KSL Weather Forecast