Coronavirus: 1 in 7 Idaho workers file jobless claims; Blaine County surveys patients
Nearly 109,000 Idaho workers have filed for unemployment compensation since the coronavirus struck Idaho in mid-March, state officials said Thursday.
Thirteen thousand of those claims were filed in the week that ended last Saturday, April 18, the Idaho Department of Labor said in a news release.
Adding the 108,984 claims to the 22,497 Idaho workers already unemployed in March means nearly 15% of the state’s 893,211-member workforce, or about one in seven Idaho workers, is jobless, though the Department of Labor does not endorse that calculation. Official monthly unemployment rates are calculated using a pair of recurring surveys, not by counting unemployment-compensation claims. Idaho’s unemployment rate in March was 2.6%, based on data gathered before Gov. Brad Little declared an emergency March 13.
The state says regular unemployment compensation payments are being processed promptly despite the deluge of new claims. But the $600-a-week supplemental payments authorized by Congress’s $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill have been delayed. Idaho is one of only six states not yet paying the $600, CNN reported Thursday.
That extra $600 combined with the state compensation replaces more than 120% of the average Idaho weekly wage, The New York Times reports.
Officials say Idaho’s unemployment insurance fund, which is funded by employers, is sound, unlike funds in some states that are running out of money. “Based on a $905 million balance as of March 2020, we estimate 187,500 people could draw benefits for an average of 16 weeks at $300 per week,” Department of Labor spokeswoman Georgia Smith said in an email.
Blaine County surveys COVID-19 patients
Blaine County officials are starting an online survey to track coronavirus cases in the county.
The location-based, confidential survey will allow residents to report whether they have tested positive for COVID-19. The county will use the information in two ways. First, the county may use the data to gain a better grasp of the epidemiology of the community, as well as learn more about current patients and those who have recovered.
The data will also be used for first responders to have and keep in mind when called to certain locations, according to a news release from the county. However, the data will not change how first responders do their jobs, and they will continue to treat all calls as if a person has tested positive for COVID-19.
“It may feel like an invasion of privacy in the midst of an already difficult time, but if people are willing to participate, the information will help further protect emergency responders during this continued crisis,” Wood River Fire and Rescue Chief Ron Bateman said in the news release.
Those in Blaine County who have tested positive for the virus and are willing to fill out the confidential survey can do so by going to https://arcg.is/1GT0SP.
Coronavirus threatens Idaho physician clinics
Since the coronavirus pandemic reached the United States, physician clinics in Idaho have seen a 60% reduction in revenue on average, leading practices to question their sustainability.
According to surveys from the Idaho Medical Association and the Idaho Medical Group Management Association, many clinics around Idaho have had to cut hours and physician pay, furlough staff and close satellite locations.
Over 150 Idaho clinics responded to the groups’ surveys, representing more than 1,000 physicians across the state, according to a news release from the IMA.
Most practices in the state have resorted to using telehealth for appointments with patients. However, clinics reported to the IMA that insurance companies often pay clinics less for telehealth visits than they do for in-person visits.
More than half of clinics also reported shortages on personal protective equipment.
“With Idaho already ranking near last in the U.S. in physicians per capita, it is vital that Idaho leaders and insurance companies take action to assist these struggling practices so they can continue to take care of our Idaho communities and families in the coming months and years,” Susie Pouliot, IMA CEO, said in the news release.
The IMA sent a letter to Idaho Gov. Brad Little that included recommendations to improve the viability of physician clinics. The letter asked to have telehealth visits be reimbursed by insurers at the same as in-person visits; to reinstate elective procedures based on need and urgency; and to increase personal protective equipment availability for clinics.
Deaths reported for sixth day in a row
Every day for nearly a week, at least one coronavirus-related death has been reported in Idaho.
The latest death, made public Wednesday, was a woman in her 80s who died in Nez Perce County. The county has seen 13 coronavirus deaths, with all of those dying being over the age of 70.
As of Wednesday evening, 54 deaths had been reported.
Nine Idaho counties have reported at least one death due to the coronavirus: Ada (14), Blaine (5), Canyon (6), Cassia (1), Elmore (1), Jerome (2), Nez Perce (13), Payette (1) and Twin Falls (11).
On Thursday afternoon, three new cases were reported in Kootenai County, according to the Panhandle Health District. The county’s total is now up to 59 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
With the addition of the latest numbers, Idaho now has 1,696 confirmed coronavirus cases.
Cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in 32 of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 600, Adams 3, Bannock 5, Bingham 3, Blaine 477, Bonner 4, Bonneville 16, Camas 1, Canyon 205, Caribou 1, Cassia 12, Custer 2, Elmore 26, Fremont 2, Gem 9, Gooding 7, Idaho 3, Jefferson 4, Jerome 36, Kootenai 59, Latah 4, Lincoln 20, Madison 5, Minidoka 7, Nez Perce 35, Owyhee 6, Payette 10, Power 2, Teton 7, Twin Falls 122, Valley 2 and Washington 1.
Idaho prison staffer tests positive
Idaho Department of Correction Director Josh Tewalt says a staff member who works at the Idaho State Correctional Institution tested positive for the coronavirus.
ISCI is a medium-security prison in Kuna that can hold about 1,400 men.
Tewalt on Tuesday said the staff member notified IDOC of the positive test Monday evening. The staffer last worked at the prison on April 16.
“As a precaution, two additional staff members have been notified of potential exposure and have been directed to self‐isolate for 14 days to watch for symptoms,” Tewalt wrote in an update to the department’s staff. “The staff member who tested positive is in good spirits and recovering well.”
The ISCI staff member is the second prison worker to test positive. In March, a staff member of the Idaho Maximum Security Institution tested positive for the coronavirus. IMSI is the maximum-security prison in Kuna.
As of Thursday morning, no inmates had tested positive for the coronavirus, IDOC reported.
Albertsons donates $50 million, extends combat pay
Albertsons Cos. says it is donating $50 million to hunger relief across the 2,200+ neighborhoods it serves nationwide in response to the coronavirus crisis.
The commitment adds to the $3 million the Boise company previously pledged. Over the past four weeks, customers have donated more than $13 million to the effort at the company’s stores, which include Albertsons, Safeway and 19 other supermarket brands in 34 states.
Albertsons said it will work with existing hunger-relief partners to help keep food banks stocked amid increased demand, support emergency meal distribution programs at schools, and support senior centers and other programs that provide meals and food to seniors
Albertsons, which has 230,000 employees, also said it will extend its $2-an-hour “Appreciation Pay” supplement for hourly front-line workers until at least May 2. The company announced the temporary pay boost March 20 and said it would evaluate the situation and make changes as necessary.
Boise bike shop closes temporarily after employee tests positive
Eastside Cycles, a Boise bike shop located at 3072 S Bown Way, will close until next Tuesday after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus.
The bike shop announced the closure Wednesday in a post on its website. The post said that the shop decided to preemptively test all employees for COVID-19, and that one employee, though asymptomatic, had tested positive.
The decision to close was based on CDC guidelines, as well as advice from a local physician. The shop will resume scheduling bike repairs when it reopens next week. Until then, no appointments will be scheduled.
If your bike is already at Eastside for service, they will continue to complete scheduled service and will schedule drop-offs when ready.
If you have any questions, email eastsidecycles@gmail.com for more information.
Boise fencing off outdoor gyms
Boise is fencing off access to outdoor gyms at Camel’s Back Park and Ann Morrison Park after officials weren’t able to keep users off the equipment, Doug Holloway, Boise Parks and Recreation director, told the Statesman.
Other facilities fenced off are Rhodes Skate Park and a small BMX track at Willow Lane Park, Holloway said, for the same reason.
Boise closed access to sporting courts, including basketball and tennis courts, on April 7. Playgrounds have been shuttered since March 21. Parks are still open, but officials have repeatedly reminded people to respect social distancing rules.
Nampa library to offer curbside pickup
If you have a hold at the Nampa Public Library, you may soon be able to pick it up.
Employees at the library have started pulling books that are checked in but that have been placed on hold by patrons. When items are available for pickup, patrons will be notified and will get instructions on when to go and which parking space to use. Patrons call when they arrive, and library staff will place items on tables set up near the 10-minute parking spaces on 3rd Street for “no-contact” pickups.
Patrons at the Nampa library and others are asked to hold on to checked out materials at this time. Due dates throughout the Treasure Valley have been extended until June 1.
SBA to resume accepting Paycheck Protection Program loan applications
The Small Business Administration will resume accepting applications on Monday, April 27, for the loan program for businesses who have laid off workers due to the coronavirus. The program allows small businesses to use 75% of the proceeds to rehire workers and the remainder for business expenses. The loan will be forgiven if those criteria are met.
Funding has been provided to 1.7 million businesses employing more than 30 million workers. This week, Congress approved an additional $310 billion of funding, added to the $349 provided in the original allocation passed March 27.
The Statesman earlier wrote about Meraki Greek Street Food in Boise being approved for a PPP loan.
This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 12:37 PM.
