Coronavirus update: Blaine imposes stricter measures; state to offer hotline for questions
Editor’s note: For updated coronavirus case numbers released late Friday afternoon, click here.
Blaine County reported 11 new confirmed cases of coronavirus on Friday morning, bringing the total number up to 93 cases in the county, and prompting commissioners there to take action.
Twin Falls County reported one new case, bringing the county’s count up to two people with the virus. Kootenai County also reported a new case on Friday, bringing that county’s count up to 11 patients.
Bannock County reported a new case, too, bringing the number up to three people with coronavirus in the county.
Gem County reported its first confirmed case Friday afternoon. The Southwest Health District reported that a man in his 20s tested positive. The health district said the man experienced mild symptoms and is recovering at home. The source of his transmission is under investigation.
The 11th patient in Kootenai County is a man in his 70s who is self-isolating at home. His case appears to be travel-related, according to the Panhandle Health District.
The third patient in Bannock County is a man in his 30s who is self-isolating at home. His case also appears to be related to travel, according to Southeastern Idaho Public Health.
When combining all public health districts in Idaho, the state now has 203 cases of confirmed coronavirus.
As the number of confirmed cases in Idaho reached 188 cases in 17 counties on Thursday, state authorities stressed that residents should stay home.
Of the cases confirmed, four people have now died, according to public health districts. The first two were from Blaine County, where the largest outbreak in Idaho is, and one was from Canyon County. On Friday a death in Nez Perce County was announced.
On Wednesday, Gov. Brad Little issued a 21-day stay-home order for the entire state, mandating people stay in their homes, except for those who work in essential professions or who are leaving home for essential reasons, such as getting groceries or medicine.
COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, has been confirmed in Ada, Canyon, Blaine, Bannock, Bingham, Twin Falls, Teton, Valley, Madison, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Cassia, Idaho, Kootenai, Nez Perce, Gem and Payette counties, as of Friday afternoon.
Combined, about 2,857 people had been tested for the virus, as of Thursday evening, according to the state website. Those numbers will be updated Friday evening.
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.
Editor’s note: The number of cases in Twin Falls County has been updated after South Central Public Health District corrected its numbers on Friday. Twin Falls County has 2 cases, as of Friday.
New hotline up and running Monday
In a press release sent late Friday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced a new toll-free number Idahoans may call with questions about COVID-19 or Little’s stay-home order staring Monday, March 30. People can call 888-330-3010 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Little’s official order, a list of essential services, and an FAQ section are available on coronavirus.idaho.gov.
Blaine County tightens restrictions
A special meeting held by the Blaine County Commission on Friday ended in a 2-1 vote to impose restrictions that are stricter than what Little put in place.
Little’s order allows construction and landscaping work to continue amid the 21-day shutdown. The commissioners shuttered those businesses with a new ordinance that was supported by Jacob Greenberg and Dick Fosbury. Commissioner Angenie McCleary voted against it.
The Blaine ordinance will be put in place immediately, lasting through April 12. The ordinance matches most of Little’s order but deems commercial and residential construction, as well as routine maintenance and landscaping, to be nonessential.
Hotels and short-term rentals in the county may go only to health care providers or other people deemed essential amid the outbreak, and not to travelers from outside of the county.
“My real concern is that people are going to be out of work, perhaps unnecessarily, in a time period when it’s absolutely vital that people are getting their paychecks,” McCleary said during the meeting, which was held over a conference call.
Fosbury said he was concerned about the health care facilities being overrun in Blaine County if further action wasn’t taken. Some very ill coronavirus patients are already being transferred to hospitals in other counties.
“To date, it seems we’re making progress with the behavior of people in the community, but we’re not making progress with controlling the spread of the virus,” Fosbury said.
Travel into and out of Blaine County, per the ordinance, must be for essential needs and essential business, or government purposes. Commissioners said that there will be no barriers put up on roads, but they strongly encourage the community to comply.
“We’re not in the business of trying to limit people’s constitutional rights,” Greenburg said. “What we’re trying to do is stop the spread of a contagious disease.”
The commission also unanimously passed a resolution Friday that would free up $40,000 in funding for the disaster services coordinator to help fund ambulances and decontamination equipment needed during the outbreak.
Ketchum, Hailey expand restrictions for citizens
The Ketchum and Hailey city councils approved measures Friday that would put in place more restrictions in those cities, similar to what Blaine County put in place the same day. Both orders will go into effect starting Monday, March 30, and last through at least April 12.
The Ketchum measure requires all housing and commercial construction to stop, as well as cease operations for landscaping and other residential services, which is similar to the order passed by the Blaine County Commission. Only work that is deemed “immediate and essential” for plumbers and electricians will be allowed, according to the city.
“With Blaine County having the highest rate of community spread in Idaho, we need to take this extra step to ensure the safety of residents and visitors to our town,” said Ketchum Mayor Neil Bradshaw in a press release. “I am thankful to everyone for taking this so seriously and appreciate all the efforts people have taken to slow down the spread of COVID-19.”
Hotels and short-term rentals can provide housing for health care workers or government workers who have an essential function. However, outside of those exceptions, hotels and short-term rentals cannot offer lodging to people who live outside of Blaine County.
The measure also requires that any county resident who is coming back from traveling out of state must self-quarantine for at least 14 days when they return.
The Twin Falls Times-News reported Friday that the Hailey isolation order will follow the same restrictions. The Hailey measure also says tradesmen like plumbers and electricians can perform work that is deemed immediate and essential.
Nampa, Caldwell close golf courses, public restrooms
Following the governor’s recent order, the city of Nampa announced Thursday that it will close its two municipal golf courses; Centennial Golf Course and Ridgecrest Golf Club.
All park bathrooms in Nampa will also be closed in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
On Friday, the city of Caldwell also announced the closure of municipal golf courses, Purple Sage Golf Course and Fairview Golf Course.
Caldwell is also closing its public restrooms. Both cities’ park playground equipment will remain closed. Pathways and park spaces remain open, as long as residents keep a 6-foot distance from each other.
“While I understand some will not appreciate the closure of the golf courses and restrooms, with confirmed cases of coronavirus spread in Canyon County, we all need to do our part now in reducing the spread of this virus,” said Nampa Mayor Debbie Kling through a news release. “Please honor the governor’s stay-home order.”
Idaho Youth Ranch not accepting donations for thrift stores
Idaho Youth Ranch stores were among the businesses that closed their doors to comply with the state’s stay-home order, and now they are asking community members to refrain from dropping off donations at stores, as no employees will be there to accept them.
Leaving donations at the stores will only add to the workload once employees do return, the company said in a press release Friday. The nonprofit was forced to furlough all thrift shop employees following Little’s announcement Wednesday.
“The dropping of household goods and other items is causing a lot of harm,” said Rich Cline, vice president of social enterprise for Idaho Youth Ranch, in the press release. “People are leaving their donations in back of our stores, when no one will be there until at least April 15.”
However, Idaho Youth Ranch will continue to have its therapeutic services for youths and families across the state. Though affected greatly by the statewide shutdown, the nonprofit is confident it can “weather the storm,” according to the press release.
What is COVID-19?
The symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, sore throat, joint and bone pain, headache and chills.
The coronavirus is believed to have a higher mortality rate than seasonal flu, especially among the elderly and people with other health conditions or compromised immune systems.
Anyone who believes they may have coronavirus should contact their medical provider. If they don’t have a primary care provider, residents can call 2-1-1 or call a local health care clinic for advice.
Residents who are not experiencing symptoms, or who have not been in direct contact with someone who has coronavirus, do not need to be tested.
This story was originally published March 27, 2020 at 10:14 AM.
