Coronavirus update: Idaho case count tops 1,140, more campgrounds closed in Boise National Forest
The number of new cases of coronavirus patients in Idaho seemed to drop over the weekend, but on Monday, 35 new cases were quickly reported statewide, including 14 in Twin Falls County.
That brings the county’s total count to 51 reported cases. Blaine County reported 11 new cases, bringing its count to 421, still the highest tally in Idaho. Jerome County reported five, bringing its count to 18. Lincoln County reported two, bringing its count to 11, and Gooding County added two, bring its total to three.
Southeastern Idaho Public Health reported Monday afternoon that it had confirmed a case of the virus in Power County, its first one. A woman in her 20s tested positive and is recovering at home. The health department is investigating how the woman could have been exposed to the virus.
Power became the 32nd of Idaho’s 44 counties to report a positive case. That case, and a few others added Monday afternoon, brought the statewide count of patients to 1,141. COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, was first detected in Idaho on March 13.
State residents remain subject to a three-week stay-at-home order from Gov. Brad Little in an effort to stop the virus’s spread. It is scheduled to end April 15, though Little said Thursday that “something will take its place.”
At least 10 people have died in Idaho as a result of coronavirus-related complications.
Coronavirus has been confirmed in these 32 counties: Ada, Adams, Bannock, Bingham, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Camas, Canyon, Caribou, Cassia, Custer, Elmore, Fremont, Gem, Gooding, Idaho, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Latah, Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Nez Perce, Owyhee, Payette, Power, Teton, Twin Falls, Valley and Washington.
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.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s website last reported that 80 of the coronavirus cases were health care workers.
More campgrounds, trailheads, hot springs closed in Boise National Forest
The Boise National Forest announced Monday that it will close additional campgrounds, trailheads, hot springs and parking lots in an effort to keep visitors from congregating and potentially spreading the coronavirus.
On March 25, Forest Service officials said they would close certain sites to encourage social distancing. They extended that closure Monday to include popular spots near Boise, including the newly reopened Stack Rock trailhead off of Bogus Basin Road.
The new closures include dispersed campsites (not at a designated camping area) as well as official forest campsites. The closed sites are the Grimes Creek area, French Creek, Deadwood and other campsites in the Mountain Home, Emmett, Idaho City, Cascade and Lowman ranger districts.
Additionally, the Forest Service is closing hot springs within the Boise National Forest. Popular sites like Kirkham Hot Springs and Pine Flats will no longer be accessible.
Find a full list of closures here.
Concordia University School of Law postpones commencement
The May commencement ceremony for Concordia University School of Law’s graduation has been postponed until August.
Interim Dean Latonia Haney Keith said Monday in a news release that the 37 graduates will be honored on Aug. 22 in a ceremony to be held at the Boise Centre.
The law school set up an information page on its website, law.cu-portland.edu/covid-19-information.
Zoo Boise staff, animals still healthy
After a tiger at the Bronx Zoo grabbed headlines for contracting coronavirus from a staff member, local zoos continue to take precautions to keep staff and animals safe.
As of Monday, Boise Parks and Recreation Director Doug Holloway said none of the Zoo Boise staff had tested positive for the virus and none of the animals were showing symptoms. Zoo Boise is closed to the public, due to the statewide order by Gov. Little and the local order by Mayor Lauren McLean, but staff does still go in to care for the animals daily.
“The health and safety of our zoo team members and our animals is of the highest priority at all times,” Holloway wrote in an email to the Statesman. “At this time, no animals at Zoo Boise are showing any signs of respiratory illness or other symptoms related to the virus.”
The animal caregivers have increased their use of personal protective equipment, including masks and face shields, as well as following the diligent hand-washing and sanitizing guidelines, he said.
Holloway said Zoo Boise follows the guidelines of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, the USDA, and the CDC.
Boise pushes back new police chief selection
The selection of Boise’s new police chief is delayed because it’s not possible to do in-person interviews or sitdowns with the community, Karen Boe, spokeswoman for Mayor Lauren McLean, told the Statesman.
The city is looking into ways to conduct the interviews and community sessions online, Boe said. The new police chief will replace Bill Bones, who retired in October.
There are four candidates for the job — Joseph Chacon with the Austin, Texas, Police Department; Alice Fulk with the Little Rock, Arkansas, Police Department; Ryan Lee with the Portland, Oregon, Police Department; and Ron Winegar with the Boise Police Department.
McLean announced Monday that she was naming Winegar, the department’s deputy chief, as acting chief starting April 24. He will succeed Mike Masterson, the former Boise police chief who has served as acting chief since November.
This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 11:04 AM.
