Coronavirus update: Twin Falls County sees first fatality, statewide count breaks 900
As Idaho’s infection rates continue to climb, the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread across the state, and a new fatality was reported Friday afternoon.
A woman in Twin Falls County died as a result of complications from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, according to public health officials.
The woman was over the age of 70, was hospitalized and had complicating health factors, according to South Central Public Health District. Her death is the 10th coronavirus-related death in the state.
The announcement about the woman’s death came just a day after community spread was confirmed in Twin Falls County.
On Friday morning, the South Central Public Health District reported 31 new cases in Blaine County, setting the county’s total count at 382.
Jerome County reported two new cases, bringing its count to 10 people infected. Lincoln County reported two new cases, bringing its count to seven. Cassia County has one new case, bringing the total there to four cases. Twin Falls County increased by one new case and now has 33 total. Kootenai County reported a new case, bringing its count to 37. Bonner County reported a second case in its county.
Statewide, Idaho now has 909 cases of the coronavirus, with community spread reported in at least 12 counties.
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.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s stay-home order remains in effect until at least April 15, but the governor acknowledges that it’s unclear what will happen after that date if the outbreak isn’t under control.
As of Thursday evening, the statewide count of confirmed cases was at 870 people.
Community spread has been confirmed in Ada, Bingham, Blaine, Bonneville, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Jefferson, Kootenai, Madison, Teton and Twin Falls counties.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is reporting that at least 46 health care workers have contracted the virus.
St. Luke’s Wood River resumes some regular services
Ketchum’s St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center is based in the county with the state’s largest outbreak, and the heath system announced Thursday that it will continue some regular services.
On March 20, the hospital decided it would temporarily suspended nonemergent operations after health officials found community spread of coronavirus in Blaine County.
On Friday, urgent surgeries and the baby/mother unit will resume operations, according to a news release from St. Luke’s. Patients seeking same-day care for urgent illnesses and injuries, unrelated to the coronavirus, will be seen at the walk-in clinic at the physician office annex from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day, at 100 Hospital Drive in Ketchum, until further notice.
Patients can go to the walk-in clinic without an appointment, but St. Luke’s encourages patients to call ahead and make an appointment to ensure safety. The clinic can be reached at 208-727-8811.
Starting Monday, the St. Luke’s Family Medicine Clinic will reopen for general medical care unrelated to the coronavirus. The family medicine clinic is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday- Friday. Internal medicine, gastroenterology, neurology, obstetrics and other specialty services will be available on a rotating basis.
“Patients are being directed to contact their primary care providers or, if they do not have a primary care provider, to phone the clinic directly at 208-788-3434 for assessment to determine the appropriate care plan,” according to the St. Luke’s news release.
The emergency room remains open for any critical needs.
Boise food pantry open Friday
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s food pantry on Overland Road will remain open Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Idaho National Guard deployed 10 air guardsmen to help the food pantry, at 3209 W. Overland Road, according to St. Vincent de Paul. Team Rubicon, a nonprofit disaster response team, is also volunteering at the pantry.
St. Vincent de Paul reported Thursday that the pantry is deep cleaned and sanitized daily.
IDOC staff member tests positive
Idaho Department of Correction Director Josh Tewalt wrote in his Thursday update that a staff member of the Idaho Maximum Security Institution had tested positive for the coronavirus.
IMSI is a maximum-security prison in Kuna that can house up to 549 men. The employee last reported to work at the prison on March 24, according to IDOC spokesman Jeff Ray.
“The person was sent home as a result of the health screening process we conduct at the entrance to all IDOC facilities,” Ray said in an email Friday. “The person did not interact with people who are incarcerated at IMSI that day.”
“The staff member has recovered well and has been symptom‐free for several days,” according to Tewalt’s update.
As of Thursday evening, the Department of Correction COVID-19 tracking system reported that no inmates had tested positive for the virus. IDOC was waiting for results on two Idaho inmates who were tested. Two Idaho offenders at the Eagle Pass facility in Texas were also waiting for the results of coronavirus tests.
The Idaho State Correctional Institution in Kuna has not reported any cases of coronavirus, but the medical annex is under quarantine as a precaution. ISCI is home to about 1,400 male inmates.
BSU offers pass/fail grading
Boise State University is offering pass/fail grading as an option for students in the spring semester of 2020, rather than traditional grading, according to an email sent to students from Tony Roark, BSU interim provost and vice president for academic affairs.
For spring semester courses, students may keep their letter grade assigned by the instructor, or a grade of C- or higher can be deemed a P, for pass. A grade of D or below cannot be changed. Students are instructed to talk to their academic adviser about how the changes could impact them.
A grade of “P” would not affect their grade point average.
This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 11:01 AM.
