Coronavirus update: Idaho passes 100 mark, has protective equipment needs; Micron steps up
Idaho’s 100th case of confirmed coronavirus came out of Kootenai County on Wednesday afternoon. It was the ninth confirmed case in that county.
Public health officials have reported that coronavirus is confirmed in at least 17 counties across Idaho, as of Wednesday, and the state total is 141.
The Kootenai County case is a man in his 40s who is self-isolating. The Panhandle Health District said at least one of the cases appears to be the result of community spread. The other eight are considered travel-related.
The health district’s announcement came just minutes before Gov. Brad Little issued a statewide order mandating that residents stay home for 21 days. There are exceptions for essential businesses, such as medical personnel and first responders, and residents may leave for medical care or to buy food or medicine.
The South Central District Health website reported the number of confirmed cases in Blaine County had grown to 63 by Wednesday evening. Blaine County also announced even stricter isolation policies in a news release, including a halt to all housing and commercial construction, a halt to landscaping and other residential services, a prohibition on hotel stays and short-term rentals for non-Blaine residents, and a prohibition on travel outside the county to obtain items available in the county.
In the Treasure Valley, health officials confirmed community spread of COVID-19, the disease that’s caused by coronavirus, in a Tuesday evening announcement. Community spread is defined as illness within a community that lacks connection to travel or other confirmed cases. No additional information about the new cases, such as ages of the people affected or whether they required hospitalization, was provided by the health district.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhy our case numbers might differ from the state's
The Idaho Statesman is tabulating confirmed coronavirus cases from Idaho’s seven health districts as they’re reported. The health districts report cases on their own schedules — some issue press releases, some simply update totals on their websites. And the reports happen at various times throughout the day.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, meanwhile, updates its statewide numbers once a day at about 5 p.m. Its numbers only include the cases the health districts have reported directly to the department. In some cases, health districts have reported cases publicly but not to the department by the daily deadline.
We break out each day’s new cases by county and provide details on each case when available here.
Boise State University cancels spring commencement
Idaho’s largest public university canceled its spring commencement, scheduled for May 9. Boise State was the last school to make a decision about graduation, having vowed to wait to re-evaluate on April 15.
But in an email to students on Wednesday, university President Marlene Tromp said putting off graduation was an effort to keep students and their families safe.
“We will celebrate this with a series of unique, history-making events this May — in ways we could never have imagined just a few weeks ago,” Tromp said. “The class of 2020 will also be invited to a special traditional commencement ceremony dedicated to you this December.”
Students and families are to receive additional information in the coming weeks.
Micron to give workers $1,000 and donate masks, space for patients
Micron Technology Inc. said Wednesday that it would commit $35 million to help “those disproportionately affected by COVID-19.”
The memory-chip maker, the Treasure Valley’s largest for-profit employer, said the commitment includes $10 million for a new relief fund through its Micron Foundation, increased employee gift matching and financial assistance for employees.
In a news release, Micron said it would accelerate payments to small-business suppliers and donate facilities and supplies for emergency medical response. Micron said it would provide up to 300,000 protective masks to local health officials and make Micron facilities available as additional capacity for overflow patients if hospitals become overwhelmed.
The company said it would make a one-time assistance payment of $1,000 to all U.S. employees who earn less than $100,000 per year, and “appropriately scaled amounts” to eligible workers in the other countries where Micron operates.
“We are deeply concerned about the effects this pandemic is having on our Micron team members,” said April Arnzen, senior vice president of human resources, in the release.
Micron also announced a 2-to-1 company match for all designated COVID-19 donations to the Micron Gives charitable program.
Personal protective equipment drive Saturday
Officials at Albertsons Stadium will host a personal protective equipment drive on Saturday, where they’re asking the community to donate equipment for health care workers. The event will last from noon to 4 p.m. at the stadium’s east parking lot.
Hands of Hope Northwest, a nonprofit that provides medical supplies and equipment to the underserved, is leading the effort. State Sens. Maryanne Jordan and Cherie Buckner-Webb, as well as House of Representatives candidate Chris Mathias, are also organizers.
“People are encouraged to donate PPE such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, bleach products and more in order to help health care workers in Idaho protect themselves, and their patients, in the fight against COVID-19,” Hands of Hope Northwest organizers wrote in a news release Wednesday.
Volunteers will accept donations as the supplies come in, but gathering will not be allowed in the area. They are asking businesses such as tattoo shops, nail salons, veterinary clinics, hair salons, elective surgery clinics, spray tanning clinics and anyone else with access to these supplies to donate.
Tax donation receipts will be provided to any individual or business owner who provides an itemized list of donated items.
The following supplies are needed:
Sterile and nonsterile gloves
Unopened hand sanitizer
Unopened commercial bleach bottles, sprays, or wipes
Unopened Isopropyl alcohol
Eye protection and goggles
Clear face shields
Non-cloth masks with ties or ear loops
Respirator masks – N95, N99, P100 of all sizes. Extra filters are also needed.
Unused PAPR respirators – 3M or MaxAir. Hoods, filters, batteries, chargers, tubes to go with these units are also needed.
Unused disposable gowns
Shoe covers
Unused biohazard bags
For information, visit the Hands of Hope Northwest website at handsofhopenw.org or call 208-461-1473.
Nampa closes libraries indefinitely
The Nampa Library Board of Trustees voted Wednesday to extend the closure of the Nampa Library indefinitely. Emails and phone calls are still being answered.
Patrons are asked to hold on to any checked-out materials, as the outdoor book drop is closed and no returns are allowed now. All due dates have been extended until June 1.
Nampa is encouraging people use a “temporary digital library card,” which is for Nampa residents 18 years or older who do not have library cards. The temporary card will allow access to the Nampa Public Library’s digital resources.
McLean weighs in on Boise economy
Boise will “do everything we can not to cut services,” Boise Mayor Lauren McLean said in a call with the media Wednesday. She said the city will turn first to contingency funds before cutting services.
The city is working with state and federal officials to try to benefit the local economy, McLean said. She added that the city would continue to rely on its “portfolio of affordable housing reforms” and would work on “creative policies” to help those struggling financially.
Marriage licenses
Ada County Clerk Phil McGrane announced on Twitter that anyone planning to get married should get a marriage license Wednesday. That’s an update to his earlier request, when he asked people to get their licenses by March 27 for any wedding before May 31.
“With (Gov. Brad Little’s) declaration, we anticipate that we will no longer be offering licenses after today,” he wrote.
McGrane said most counties in the state would be following suit, and he encouraged people to call other counties before visiting for a marriage license.
He also encouraged people to complete their applications before coming in person. Ada County extended its hours until 7 p.m.
Nampa playgrounds shut down
The city of Nampa announced Wednesday that it is closing all playground equipment because of the coronavirus. The city manages 23 playgrounds.
”We ask residents to refrain from using swings, slides and avoid using or touching any other park equipment until further notice,” the city said in a news release. “Parks and Recreation maintenance staff will be taping off all playgrounds beginning (Wednesday) and posting signs in English and Spanish at each site alerting residents to these closures.”
While playground equipment is closed, the parks and pathways remain open for residents to use.
Boise State lends ventilators to hospitals
Boise State University will lend some ventilators and other resources that the school has for its respiratory care classes to local hospitals for use amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The university said Wednesday that the Department of Respiratory Care is providing educational support, offering patient consultations and lending equipment, including several state-of-the-art ventilators. Ventilators are used to support breathing for patients who are in respiratory failure, something that some COVID-19 patients may desperately need.
Partnering hospitals include Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center, Veterans Administration Medical Center, West Valley Regional Medical Center and Vibra Hospital of Boise.
Many states have reported a shortage of ventilators amid the global pandemic. There is a growing concern that a shortage of ventilators may occur in the Treasure Valley, according to the university’s news release.
St. Luke’s announces drive-up pharmacy option
St. Luke’s Health System hospitals are now offering drive-up pharmacy options in Boise, Meridian and Nampa because of the visitor restrictions in place amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
The temporary outpatient pharmacy prescription drop-off and pickup service in the parking lots of the hospitals will be open Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays.
St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center
- Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Saturday: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
St. Luke’s Meridian Medical Center
- Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Saturday: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
St. Luke’s Nampa Medical Center
- Monday - Friday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 10:16 AM.
