Idaho coronavirus cases top 400 after another single-day high; death count increases, too
Three Idaho counties reported their first positive tests for coronavirus on Monday and the statewide total saw its largest single-day jump, with 112 new confirmed cases for a total of 433.
Health officials also reported the seventh and eighth fatal coronavirus cases, with deaths occurring in Cassia and Ada counties.
The seventh coronavirus death in Idaho was reported Monday in Cassia County. According to the South Central Public Health District, a woman over the age of 70 died after she was hospitalized and had health complications. The health district indicated the woman caught the virus after she was visited by people who came from areas of community spread.
The eighth reported death was that of an Ada County resident, according to Central District Health. Three people in Ada County have died as a result of the coronavirus.
At around 5 p.m. Monday, health districts around the state reported that Elmore, Jerome and Minidoka counties had their first confirmed cases of the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease.
Ada County saw its total increase by 50 cases, to 163, according to the Central District Health website.
In the Southwest District, Canyon County’s number of cases grew to 47, up from 37 the day prior, and Gem County doubled from two cases to four.
Kootenai County reported its 29th case of coronavirus Monday afternoon, and the county now has community transmission, or community spread, according to the Panhandle Health District. “Community spread” is when public health professionals cannot specify an origin for an infection, such as tracing it to specific travel or contact with a specific individual.
Eastern Idaho Public Health announced three new cases in Madison County (for a total of five) and that community transmission has arrived there, too.
Kootenai (home of Coeur d’Alene) and Madison (home of Rexburg) join Ada, Canyon and Blaine counties with community spread.
“As we have watched the progression of this pandemic across the nation and Idaho, we knew that at some point we would experience community transmission. This is where the governor’s stay-home order really comes into play to help us slow the spread. If you have not been taking the matter seriously, now is the time to start,” Geri Rackow, EIPH Director, said in a press release. “Staying home at the first sign of even the mildest of symptoms is going to help the disease from being spread to others.”
The number of confirmed cases in Blaine County grew to 148 people as of Monday evening, according to the South Central Public Health District. The number in Twin Falls County grew to five. And Bonneville County is now reporting two cases of coronavirus, up from one last week.
Nez Perce County reported five new cases Monday afternoon, four of which involve people over the age of 75, according to a North Central Health District press release. The other case is someone in their 50s. Nez Perce County now has nine confirmed cases.
The state has now seen eight deaths related to COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. Cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in at least 25 of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada, Bannock, Bingham, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Canyon, Cassia, Custer, Elmore, Fremont, Gem, Idaho, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Nez Perce, Owyhee, Payette, Teton, Twin Falls and Valley counties.
At least one of the 145 Ada County cases is the spouse of a U.S. Air Force airman. The airman had not visited the Mountain Home Air Force Base in at least the last 10 days because the couple lives and works in Boise.
Public affairs officer for the Mountain Home Air Force Base, 2nd Lt. Emileigh Rogers, confirmed the spouse’s case Monday for the Idaho Statesman. None of the airmen who live on the Elmore County base had tested positive for coronavirus as of Monday morning.
About 4,500 military members and civilians work on the base, not including any family members of airmen who may live on base. If an airman were to test positive, it would be reported to both Central District Health and the Department of Defense, Rogers said.
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.
Target employee tests positive
An employee at a Boise Target store on Milwaukee Street tested positive for coronavirus, according to the company. In a statement to KTVB, the company said an employee is in quarantine and on paid sick leave.
A Target spokesperson did not tell KTVB when the employee last worked at the store, but said it would be deep-cleaned and sanitized.
Idaho Statesman sports clerk Gage Hanson, also an employee in the electronics section at the Target on Milwaukee, said in a series of tweets Sunday that other employees of the store were notified that a co-worker had tested positive.
Hanson said that employees were told the sick worker last worked the weekend of March 21-22 and was last in the building on March 23.
Dutch Bros Coffee employee tests positive
An employee of a Meridian Dutch Bros Coffee shop tested positive for the coronavirus on March 28, after working at the store throughout the month.
Hillary Brown, a spokesperson for Dutch Bros, said she could not comment directly on the date the employee was tested or whether he or she continued to work after being tested.
“(In the) late afternoon on March 28, the employee alerted us to their positive COVID-19 test result,” Brown wrote in an email to the Statesman. “We immediately started the process of closing the shop. In the meantime, we identified which employees had direct contact with the employee. Those employees are currently in isolation for 14 days and are receiving paid leave.”
The employee worked at the Dutch Bros at 37 E. Calderwood Drive. The most recent dates the employee worked were March 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 24, 27, and 28. The employee primarily worked early-morning to midday shifts, Brown said.
In Idaho, it can take as long as 10 days to two weeks to get the results of a coronavirus test back. That means the employee likely was tested long before March 28 and continued to work.
“We’re now undergoing the process of deep cleaning and sanitizing and will remain closed for at least 24 hours while that happens,” Brown said on Monday. “We are also coordinating with public health officials to confirm our protocols not only meet, but also exceed, expectations. “
School districts expand meal service
The Boise School District said Monday that it will keep offering free grab-and-go meals to children while school is out of session.
Free sack meals will be available for drive-up meal service from 11 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday at six elementary schools. Any child, age 1-18, may receive a free breakfast and lunch to eat at home. The district does not require proof that the child is enrolled in school. The child must be present at pick-up to receive the meal.
The following schools will provide the meals:
- Garfield Elementary School, 1914 S. Broadway Ave.
Grace Jordan Elementary School, 6411 W. Fairfield Ave.
Morley Nelson Elementary School, 7701 W. Northview St.
Taft Elementary School, 3722 N. Anderson St.
Whitney Elementary School, 1609 S. Owyhee St.
Whittier Elementary School, 301 N. 29th St.
The district said the meals cannot be eaten at the pick-up location.
School buses will deliver meals between 11 a.m. and noon Monday through Friday to neighborhoods on the normal bus routes for Horizon, Taft, Jefferson and Koelsch elementary schools. Visit the school district’s website or call 208-854-4067 to inquire about the bus stop schedules.
The Nampa School District also is working to provide meals to students, it said in a release. Grab-and-go sack lunches are available for pick-up at the following school sites from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day this week:
- West Middle School, 28 S. Midland Blvd.
- Central Elementary, 1415 5th St.
- Centennial Elementary, 522 Mason Lane
- Endeavor Elementary, 2824 E. Victory Road
- Iowa Elementary, 626 W. Iowa Ave.
- Sherman Elementary, 1521 E. Sherman Ave.
- Snake River Elementary, 500 Stampede Drive
- Willow Creek Elementary, 198 N. Elementary Lane
nt to make sure students who may not have access to transportation to school sites can still receive lunches; therefore, the district also will be delivering sack lunches via school buses to several stops around the community. Any child between the ages of 1 and 18, or their parent or guardian, may pick up a sack lunch at these stops. The school bus will remain at each stop for 10 minutes to hand out sack lunches before moving on to the next scheduled stop. Below is the schedule for the sack lunch distribution stops:
For those who can’t pick up meals, school buses will make stops at various schools and bus stops. Check this list for that schedule.
This story was originally published March 30, 2020 at 10:35 AM.
