Coronavirus update: Elmore County sees first fatality, ballot delays in Ada County
Elmore County reported its first fatality due to the coronavirus on Monday, according to Central District Health.
The woman was in her 60s and had severe underlying health conditions, according to health officials. She was determined to be positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, prior to her death. As of Friday, Elmore County reported 20 confirmed cases of coronavirus.
A new coronavirus death was also reported by the state this weekend, of a Twin Falls resident. The deaths bring the statewide total to 46.
Ballot delays
Ada County is temporarily halting the mailing of ballots for the May 19 primary election.
Due to constraints in processing, the county’s elections department held off on mailing ballots over the weekend and will continue on Tuesday, according to a news release from the Ada County Clerk’s Office. Because of this, voters will likely see a longer wait time between the time they submitted a ballot request and when it will arrive in the mail.
Voters are asked to wait until May 1 before they contact Ada County Elections regarding the status of their ballot. Voters will have plenty of time to submit ballots by June 2, the deadline for them to be counted.
The county elections office has shifted around resources to accommodate the “unprecedented volume of ballot requests” leading up to the all-mail May primary elections, according to the news release.
In late March, Gov. Brad Little and Secretary of State Lawerence Denney announced that the May primary elections would be conducted with mail-in ballots only, after Denney raised his coronavirus-related concerns over polling places and the large numbers of people who would show up to vote.
New coronavirus cases reported Monday morning
Additional cases of the coronavirus were reported Monday in Kootenai and Cassia counties after new cases were reported over the weekend in Twin Falls and Blaine counties.
Both Cassia and Kootenai reported new, single cases Monday, bringing their totals to 11 and 52, respectively. Kootenai added one case on Sunday as well.
Statewide numbers are updated daily at around 5 p.m.
On Sunday, Blaine County reported its total at 470 cases, while Twin Falls now sits at 105.
Cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in 32 of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 570, Adams 1, Bannock 5, Bingham 3, Blaine 470, Bonner 4, Bonneville 16, Camas 1, Canyon 181, Caribou 1, Cassia 11, Custer 2, Elmore 21, Fremont 2, Gem 9, Gooding 7, Idaho 3, Jefferson 4, Jerome 36, Kootenai 52, Latah 3, Lincoln 17, Madison 5, Minidoka 7, Nez Perce 22, Owyhee 4, Payette 9, Power 2, Teton 7, Twin Falls 105, Valley 2 and Washington 1.
Southwest District Health urges residents to recreate near home
As temperatures begin to rise, health officials are encouraging residents to recreate close to their homes to best protect themselves from the COVID-19 outbreak.
In a news release, the Southwest Health District pushed for people to cure their cabin fever without venturing too far, if possible.
“Choosing recreational opportunities that are close to home while the statewide stay-home order is in place helps prevent overcrowding of recreational destinations and ensures these areas remain open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, “ SWDH District Director Nikki Zogg said in a news release.
Everyone is encouraged to continue practicing social distancing outside, avoid overcrowded trail heads and boat launches, and bring supplies as needed.
For information, visit coronavirus.idaho.gov/recreate-responsibly/.
University of Idaho working to develop cure
Researchers at the University of Idaho are working to find a cure for coronaviruses, including COVID-19.
A team from the university’s Department of Biological Sciences hopes to finish preliminary testing within a year, according to a news release from the university. The same team is developing a way to identify medications that can block viruses from infecting human cells.
“The University of Idaho’s research engine has pivoted quickly in the battle against COVID-19,” said university president Scott Green in a news release. “I’m proud of this team for taking the initiative to help develop a cure for this virus.”
The project is being funded with $100,000 through a National Science Foundation grant issued to a university physics professor.
Rather than develop a drug that attacks the viruses, the group is aiming to develop a treatment that shields cells from infection. By studying and testing treatments to block the infection of cells, the group will be developing a way to treat future pandemic outbreaks.
Lake Lowell to open for boaters
Canyon County will begin opening boat ramps at Lake Lowell starting today, according to a news release from the county.
The county, along with officials from the state and the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge, will begin work on setting the floating docks on Monday with the hopes they will complete their work on Saturday.
Those who choose to recreate at Lake Lowell or the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge are encouraged to abide by CDC health guidelines, as well as directions from state and local authorities.
For information, contact the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge at (208) 467-9278 or visit its website.
Rite Aid in Meridian to offer coronavirus testing
The Rite Aid store in Meridian, at 3250 S. Eagle Road, will begin offering coronavirus testing on Wednesday in the store’s parking lot.
The testing site will utilize self-swab tests and will be overseen by Rite Aid pharmacists, according to a news release issued Monday. Rite Aid expects to be able to conduct more than 200 tests daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Meridian location.
Eligible people must be at least 18 years old and are required to register and schedule appointments at www.riteaid.com.
In addition to Meridian, Rite Aid announced 10 other testing sites opening on Wednesday across Delaware, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Through its partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rite Aid now has a total of 24 self-swab testing locations opened across eight states.
The drive-up testing will use nasal swabs and participants must remain in their vehicles at all times. The testing is of no cost to eligible, registered patients.
Meridian Food Bank food drive
The Meridian Food Bank is experiencing a shortage of donations due to the coronavirus. The Village at Meridian will hold a food drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday in its parking lot along Eagle Road.
The food drive is minimizing contact due to the pandemic. Anyone willing to donate can drive up and drop off donations without physical contact. The food bank is asking for all donations, but especially nonperishable items, such as boxed rice, boxed pasta, canned pasta sauce, canned tuna or other canned meat and peanut butter.
Idaho tied for country’s biggest gas price decrease
The average price for a gallon of gasoline in Idaho is $1.93, AAA said in a news release Monday, down 10 cents from a week ago. That ties the state with Alaska for the biggest price decrease in the country over the past week.
Idaho’s average gas prices is 57 cents less per gallon than a month ago. AAA attributed the drop to social distancing efforts keeping people at home, which resulted in record levels of finished gasoline on hand as refineries have slowed their production.
“As long as it remains necessary to take the health and safety precautions that we are, we can expect the trend to continue,” AAA Idaho Public Affairs Director Matthew Conde said in the release.
Another survey, conducted by GasBuddy, set’s today’s average price in Boise at $1.86 per gallon, with prices ranging from $1.66 to $2.79.
Bass Pro Shops founder donating face masks
Johnny Morris, the founder of Bass Pro Shops, is donating one million FDA-approved face masks to health care workers across the country, including thousands locally.
In the Boise area, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center and St. Luke’s Hospital will each receive 3,000 masks, according to a release from Bass Pro Shops.
The company owns Cabela’s, which has a store at 8109 W. Franklin in Boise.
Movie theater offers streaming at home
With multiplexes closed because of the coronavirus, Boise’s art-house theater is getting creative.
The Flicks, 646 W. Fulton St. in Boise, is encouraging customers to stream films.
“Some of the movies we planned to play at The Flicks this spring are being made available to our customers to stream online,” the theater posted on Facebook. “The fee is $12 split between the theater and the distributor. … Feel free to give us feedback on this idea to help The Flicks and its employees.”
The first movie offered is “The Roads Not Taken,” starring Javier Bardem. It can be purchased for rental and streamed by visiting The Flicks’ Facebook page or website: theflicksboise.com.
This story was originally published April 20, 2020 at 8:35 AM.
