New coronavirus case count drops for 4th time in 5 days, but Idaho death toll rises
For the second day in a row, the coronavirus has claimed additional lives in Idaho.
A total of 15 people have died from the virus since the first positive case of COVID-19 was reported in Idaho on March 13, according to an update on the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s website Tuesday evening.
The two new deaths came in Blaine County for a total of four, but case-specific information was not provided by South Central Public Health District or IDHW. Health officials have confirmed deaths due to the coronavirus in Ada, Blaine, Canyon, Cassia, Nez Perce, Payette and Twin Falls counties.
Although the death count increased, the statewide total of new coronavirus cases in Idaho decreased for the fourth time in five days. With all seven of the state’s individual health district websites posting at least one update Tuesday, there were only 34 new cases of COVID-19 reported, for a total of 1,202.
Ada County saw the largest increase of the day with 14 new cases and now has a total of 432, according to Central District Health. Ada has the most cases of any county, surpassing Blaine. Elmore County, which includes Mountain Home, added one case for 12 total, CDH reported.
Canyon County grew by 10 cases to 114, according to Southwest District Health. The other counties to report new cases Tuesday were Nez Perce (17 total), Blaine (428 total), Power (2 total) and Payette (6 total) counties. Districts 1 and 7 had no new cases to report.
The state website is reporting 1,210 cases statewide. Health and Welfare and Central District Health have differing figures for Ada County (438 state vs. 432 CDH) and Elmore County (14 state vs. 12 CDH).
Cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in 32 of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 432, Adams 1, Bannock 5, Bingham 2, Blaine 428, Bonner 3, Bonneville 7, Camas 1, Canyon 114, Caribou 1, Cassia 5, Custer 2, Elmore 12, Fremont 2, Gem 8, Gooding 3, Idaho 3, Jefferson 4, Jerome 18, Kootenai 42, Latah 2, Lincoln 12, Madison 4, Minidoka 3, Nez Perce 17, Owyhee 2, Payette 6, Power 2, Teton 5, Twin Falls 53, Valley 2 and Washington 1.
Idaho has confirmed community spread in 13 counties: Ada, Bingham, Blaine, Bonneville, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Jefferson, Kootenai, Madison, Payette, Teton and Twin Falls.
Health and Welfare reported 11,898 tests had been completed statewide at the end of the day Tuesday. About 10.1% have been positive for COVID-19. There have been 93 hospitalizations, 24 admissions to the ICU and 96 health care workers who have been infected, according to IDHW. The hospital and health care numbers are based on cases with completed investigations into contacts, not the full number of positives.
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.
This story was originally published April 7, 2020 at 5:56 PM.
