Coronavirus update: Blaine on downward swing, Ada ballots go out, Bleubird sandwiches return
City and health officials in Blaine County released some encouraging statistics Tuesday showing what appears to be a downward trend in coronavirus cases in the area.
Using a graph known as an EPI Curve — a chart used in epidemiology to outline an outbreak of a disease — the South Central Public Health District recorded a declining number of people reporting symptoms.
Starting on March 1, when the first coronavirus-positive patient in the county started feeling symptoms, the EPI Curve shows a dramatic rise in people reporting symptoms, before leveling off in recent days.
Blaine County residents should still practice social distancing, and adhering to state health guidelines is still needed, officials said.
“The current account adds promise to a more rapid recovery, and may enable an earlier transition for Blaine County residents and businesses to return to normal operations,” Blaine County and city officials wrote in a news release Tuesday.
The EPI Chart made public Tuesday is a look at current conditions, and it will be updated.
Blaine County had 458 confirmed cases as of Tuesday morning, second-most in the state, behind Ada County’s 530 cases.
Six new deaths were reported in three health districts Monday, two of which were listed as probable, with COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 listed as contributing to death. That increased the state’s total to 33 deaths.
Ada County reported three new fatalities, rising the death toll in the county to nine, according to Boise-based Central District Health’s website. Both probable cases were in Ada. Probable COVID-19 deaths mean the person’s “death certificate lists COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 as contributing to death without laboratory confirmation,” according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
Nez Perce County listed one new death, which means the county has had six deaths in 20 total confirmed cases, according to the North Central District. Twin Falls County reported two new deaths for a total of four.
As of Tuesday morning, 1,455 confirmed coronavirus cases had been reported around the state, according to the state’s health districts.
Ada County starts mailing May primary ballots
Ada County has started mailing ballots this week for the May 19 primary election, according to the county clerk’s office.
An initial batch of 12,000 ballots was sent out Monday. If you have requested a ballot, you should get it in the mail in the coming days.
Even before Idaho Secretary of State Lawrence Denney announced that the May 19 primary would take place through absentee ballots, the Ada County Clerk’s Office received a large number of requests from voters. The choice to go to absentee ballots was in response to concerns over spreading the coronavirus at polling stations.
The clerk’s office expects another surge of ballot requests in the coming days, as Denney’s office mails request forms to registered voters around the state.
“We fulfill requests for ballots as quickly as possible. We’re over a month away from Election Day, and we appreciate that voters have gotten their requests in early to ensure they have ample time to complete and return their ballot to be counted,” said Ada County Clerk Phil McGrane in a news release.
Ballots can be returned by mail or dropped off at the Ada County Elections Office, 400 N. Benjamin Lane, Boise.
All ballot request forms must be submitted online or received by your county clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19. This is also the deadline to register to vote. All completed ballots must then be received by county clerks’ offices by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2.
Election results will be released starting at 9 p.m. on June 2.
Ada County makes marriage licenses available by appointment
Marriage licenses can now be obtained in Ada County by making an appointment with the county recorder’s office. They had been unavailable after Gov. Brad Little issued his stay-at-home order April 15.
Appointment times will be available on Mondays from 8 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment, applicants must complete an online application at the Ada County clerk’s website. Due to restrictions inside the Ada County Courthouse, licenses will be issued at the Indigent Services Lobby at Civic Plaza, just east of the courthouse at 252 E. Front St., Suite 199, Boise.
The recorder’s office also asks that applicants with weddings after June 1 to wait until 30 days before the wedding to make appointments.
Boise-area gas prices hit new low
Boise gas prices averaged $2.03 per gallon on Monday,GasBuddy said in a news release. That marks a fall of 16.9 cents per gallon in the past week and 56.1 cents per gallon in the past month.
Gas prices are more than 75 cents less per gallon than they were a year ago, the release said.
Idaho’s gas prices averaged $1.97 per gallon, compared with $2.44 in Oregon and $2.19 in Ogden, Utah. The national average was $1.83.
“I expect prices to continue moderating for now, as gasoline demand appears to remain near 50-year lows,” Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, said in the release.
Gov. Little visits medical supply stockpile
Idaho Gov. Little visited a staging area in Boise on Tuesday morning where hundreds of thousands of medical supplies are being accepted and distributed. The medical equipment, coming from private donations, federal resources and other means, will be dispersed across the state.
“The protection of our health care workers is a big part of preserving health care capacity, and ample personal protective equipment keeps them healthy and safe,” Little said in a news release Tuesday. “Our goal from the start has been to slow the spread of coronavirus to protect lives and preserve health care capacity so we can get back to normal as quickly as possible.”
Little said Idaho has enough personal protective equipment (or PPE) to fulfill health care workers’ needs. The supplies are overseen by the Idaho Office of Emergency Management. The available number of supplies as of Tuesday was:
Gowns | 36,842 |
Face shields | 44,888 |
Gloves | 887,975 |
Coveralls | 5,518 |
N95 Masks | 100,690 |
Surgical Masks | 215,358 |
Safety Goggles | 88,992 |
Despite the seemingly large numbers, Little urged citizens to continue to donate medical supplies.
Idaho to receive $44 million in federal money for airports
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that Idaho airports will receive $44.2 million in federal grant money to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The money will be given to 36 airports around the state.
The funding will go toward the costs of keeping airports open during the pandemic despite a sharp decline in people flying. Funds can be used for airport operating costs like employee payroll and utilities, and airport debt payments, according to a news release from the DOT. In all, the department will dole out over $10 billion to airports around the country.
“This $10 billion in emergency resources will help fund the continued operations of our nation’s airports during this crisis and save workers’ jobs,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao in a news release.
The money is part of the recently passed, $2.2 trillion CARES Act. CARES stands for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security.
Popular Bleubird sandwiches to return
One of Boise’s favorite gourmet sandwiches is coming back.
French-inspired bistro Petite 4, which closed temporarily after dine-in restaurants were ordered to shutter, is making a weekly return to sell Bleubird sandwiches.
The restaurant at 4 N. Latah St. announced on its website that it will reopen with Bleubird sandwich pop-up events on Wednesdays at its south-side door. Petite 4 also will sell a “Family Sunday Chicken Dinner.” Both items are preorder and prepaid only, with limited quantities available.
Bleubird lunch cafe enjoyed a die-hard customer base during its six-year run in downtown Boise. Lines sometimes backed up to the door for turkey and brie, and Reuben sandwiches. Owners Sarah Kelly and David “DK” Kelly shuttered Bleubird in 2018 to open Petite 4.
Petite 4 will sell Bleubird sandwiches and family dinners “as long as product, customer demand and health are maintained,” according to its website. “For information and ordering instructions we ask that you join our email list. Please email us your contact info at info@eatatpetite4.com. We will send out weekly email blasts with the current menus as well as ordering instructions.”
Idaho small businesses approved for coronavirus stimulus loans
Nearly 9,000 Idaho businesses have been approved for forgivable loans through the federal Paycheck Protection Program.
The loans for 8,846 small Idaho employers total $1.4 million, according to the office of Sen. Mike Crapo.
If at least 75% of the money is used to keep employees working or bring back workers who were laid off because of the coronavirus pandemic, the entire amount of the loan can be forgiven.
The remaining 25% can be used for mortgage payments, rent or other business expenses.
Boise to roll out “appreciation pay”
The city of Boise will start giving employees providing essential services “appreciation pay,” said Steve Burgos, the city’s public works director.
“For those folks that are providing essential services in the city, and frankly, potentially exposing themselves during work hours, we’re going to have appreciation payments of 15% per hour worked on the front line,” Burgos told the Boise City Council at its Tuesday meeting.
Burgos said that morale is good, but the money would help acknowledge the work that’s happening.
This story was originally published April 14, 2020 at 10:38 AM.
