Covering coronavirus: My stories from a week without culture to write about

What does an arts writer do when there are no arts to cover? Whatever is needed — which recently has been covering the spread of coronavirus in Utah, and its aftereffects.

Here’s a sampling of what I’ve been writing for The Salt Lake Tribune:

• Utah’s first “community spread” case of coronavirus — a doorman at a popular Park City bar — and how it prompted the state’s ski resorts to close.

• A theater troupe canceling plans to stage “To Kill a Mockingbird” — the second time in two years the company’s production of the Harper Lee story was axed before the curtain went up.

• Utah’s homegrown movie chain closing its doors, and how the movie industry may be changing its thoughts on theatrical windows..

• Utah’s first lawsuit related to coronavirus — which was over before it really started. (It involved a famous rock band, but the band was definitely not the ones being sued.)

But the biggest thing I’ve been working on for The Salt Lake Tribune is a daily blog, “How You Can Help,” where I spotlight how people can channel their time, caring, blood, sweat and cash to help others during the pandemic. Give it a read — and if you’re in Utah and you know of other ways people can help other people, send me a tip; just follow the instructions at the top at the blog.