Idaho’s coronavirus total tops 140, including big jumps in Ada and Blaine counties
Custer, Fremont and Idaho counties confirmed their first cases of coronavirus Wednesday, according to Eastern Idaho Public Health and Idaho North Central District.
Those cases were part of 49 new reported cases of coronavirus in Idaho, bringing the statewide total to 141. The largest previous single-day increase was 27 on Monday.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little issued an order Wednesday for Idahoans to stay mostly at home for 21 days beginning immediately.
In Fremont, a female under the age of 60 is self-isolating at home and is believed to have contracted the virus while traveling out of the country. The case in Custer County is a male under the age of 50 who is self-isolating at home. His case likely came from travel to an area experiencing community transmission, according to the press release. Neither was hospitalized.
Idaho County also had its first confirmed case in an adult over 70. The investigation into the case is in the preliminary stages, and no further details were available, according to the press release.
Fremont County is in East Idaho and includes St. Anthony; Custer County is in Central Idaho and includes Challis; and Idaho County is in North Idaho and includes Grangeville.
Two counties absorbed most of the statewide increase Wednesday. Blaine County’s total grew by 23 cases to 63, according to South Central Public Health; while Ada County increased by 15 to 39 cases, according to Central District Health.
Canyon County’s total increased by seven to 13 cases, according to Southwest District Health.
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.
Cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in 17 of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada, Canyon, Bannock, Bingham, Blaine, Cassia, Custer, Fremont, Idaho, Jefferson, Kootenai, Madison, Nez Perce, Payette, Teton, Twin Falls and Valley counties. The Valley County case was a part-time resident of that county who was tested in Ada.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 2,188 tests had been completed statewide at the end of the day Wednesday. About 6.4% have been positive for COVID-19.
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 5:32 PM.
