Idaho’s coronavirus cases pass 850, set single-day record for second straight day
The coronavirus curve has yet to flatten in Idaho.
On Thursday, the Gem State set a new single-day high for positive cases of COVID-19 for the second straight day and third time this week.
The state’s seven health districts reported 205 new cases in the past 24 hours for a total of 870. The previous largest single-day increase was 141 on Wednesday.
Blaine County remains Idaho’s hot spot for the virus with 351 cases, according to South Central Public Health District. Ada County’s total grew from 226 to 289, an increase of 63 cases. That’s Ada’s largest single-day increase, too.
In a campus-wide email, Boise State announced it has additional cases of COVID-19 on campus. President Marlene Tromp posted a video on YouTube confirming a staff member tested positive on March 20. Boise State has six known cases of coronavirus, BSU spokesman Greg Hahn told the Idaho Statesman in an email.
“Just as our state has seen a significant increase in the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), there have been additional confirmed cases at Boise State University, including in on-campus student housing as well as in nearby off-campus apartments where large numbers of students reside,” the university email said.
In a separate email from Housing and Residence Life Director Luke Jones, students were warned that failing to follow social distancing guidelines and the stay-home order would result in eviction. Most student residents already had been asked to leave by the university.
Elmore County’s first confirmed case of the coronavirus was reported Monday. Three days later, Central District Health announced it has identified evidence of community transmission in Elmore County.
Idaho now has confirmed community spread in 12 counties: Ada, Bingham, Blaine, Bonneville, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Jefferson, Kootenai, Madison, Teton and Twin Falls. Bonneville and Twin Falls also were added to the list Thursday.
Elmore County, which encompasses Mountain Home, Glenns Ferry and Mountain Home Air Force Base, had eight cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday afternoon, CDH said. None of those cases have required hospitalization.
“With community transmission now identified in both Ada and Elmore counties, which see frequent cross-county travel, it is more important than ever that people follow public health recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” CDH said in a press release.
According to CDH, community transmission is defined as illness within a community that lacks connection to travel or other confirmed cases.
A female in her 70s who is recovering at home is the first confirmed case in Washington County, which includes Weiser, Southwest District Health announced Thursday. The source of transmission is still under investigation.
“As part of our investigative process, we work to identify and notify contacts of confirmed cases in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. We need everyone in our community doing their part to help us by following the stay-home order issued by Idaho Department of Health and Welfare,” SWDH District Director Nikki Zogg said in a press release. “Staying home and isolating yourself from others helps minimize the spread of communicable diseases like COVID-19.”
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.
Health officials have reported nine deaths in the state connected to COVID-19 between Ada, Canyon, Blaine, Cassia and Nez Perce counties.
Cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in 30 of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada, Adams, Bannock, Bingham, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Camas, Canyon, Cassia, Custer, Elmore, Fremont, Gem, Gooding, Idaho, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Latah, Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Nez Perce, Owyhee, Payette, Teton, Twin Falls, Valley and Washington.
Health and Welfare reported 7,945 tests had been completed statewide at the end of the day Thursday. About 11% have been positive for COVID-19. Idaho’s positive testing percentage has increased from 6.3% to 11% since March 28. The single-day positive percentage was 20.7 on Wednesday and jumped to 30.9 on Thursday.
This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 4:58 PM.
