Ada County’s coronavirus deaths double in a day; confirmed cases spike, too
The number of coronavirus-related deaths in Ada County doubled in 24 hours, according to Boise-based Central District Health, to make Wednesday Idaho’s deadliest day during the pandemic with five new deaths.
Of the 470 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ada County, six deaths had been reported as of 5 p.m. Wednesday. That figure had been at three since March 30.
The Ada case count increased by 38, which is the largest single-day increase since 63 new cases were reported April 4.
Blaine County, which includes Sun Valley and Ketchum, reported one death Wednesday for a total of five, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. South Central Public Health District confirmed the first death in Jerome County. The Jerome death was a female over the age of 70, and age was considered a factor, SCPHD said in a press release.
However, a death reported Monday in Payette County is no longer showing on the state or Southwest District Health websites. That case was removed from the coronavirus stats pending “cause of death confirmation,” according to Southwest District Health.
Based on information gathered by the Idaho Statesman from the individual health districts, there are 19 deaths in Idaho due to the coronavirus between Ada, Blaine, Canyon, Cassia, Jerome, Nez Perce and Twin Falls counties. Ada now has the most deaths and the most positive cases in the state.
With all seven of the state’s health districts reporting at least one update, there were 58 new cases Wednesday for a statewide total of 1,260. Panhandle District Health and Southeastern Idaho Public Health did not have any new cases, according to their websites.
Additional cases were added Wednesday in Nez Perce (1 new, 18 total), Latah (1 new, 3 total), Elmore (4 new, 16 total), Gooding (1 new, 4 total), Jerome (1 new, 19 total), Twin Falls (2 new, 55 total), Bonneville (1 new, 8 total), Madison (1 new, 5 total), Teton (1 new, 6 total) and Canyon (7 new, 121 total) counties.
Cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in 32 of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 470, Adams 1, Bannock 5, Bingham 2, Blaine 428, Bonner 3, Bonneville 8, Camas 1, Canyon 121, Caribou 1, Cassia 5, Custer 2, Elmore 16, Fremont 2, Gem 8, Gooding 4, Idaho 3, Jefferson 4, Jerome 19, Kootenai 42, Latah 3, Lincoln 12, Madison 5, Minidoka 3, Nez Perce 18, Owyhee 2, Payette 6, Power 2, Teton 6, Twin Falls 55, 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 12,531 tests had been completed statewide at the end of the day Wednesday. About 10.1% have been positive for COVID-19. There have been 113 hospitalizations, 29 admissions to the ICU and 113 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 8, 2020 at 5:10 PM.
