So you had COVID-19? This Idaho hospital wants your plasma. Plus: 500 layoffs
Caldwell’s West Valley Medical Center is participating in a national study to see whether blood plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients can help those who are sick with the virus.
The hospital is asking for recovered patients to donate plasma for the study. With past viral infections, plasma from recovered patients has been used to form antibodies for those sickened, allowing someone’s immune system to fight a virus.
“We are asking for the help of our community to spread awareness about plasma donation for patients facing COVID-19 not only here in Idaho, but across the country,” said Betsy Hunsicker, West Valley Medical Center CEO, in a news release.
To set up a time to donate plasma, call the American Red Cross Donation Center in Boise at 1 -800-733-2767 or schedule a visit online at redcrossblood.org.
CDC adds loss of smell, taste to symptoms list
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added a number of symptoms, including a loss of smell or loss of taste, to its list of coronavirus symptoms.
Previously the CDC had listed only three symptoms: fever, cough and shortness of breath.
A loss of taste or smell is alongside other newly listed symptoms such as sore throat, chills, headache and muscle pains as signs of possibly being infected with the virus.
The New York Times reported Monday that symptoms for those infected can vary, and not everyone infected has symptoms consistent with others who have the virus.
The CDC recommends that anyone who has difficulty breathing, consistent chest pains and bluish lips or face should seek medical attention immediately.
Coronavirus cases rise over the weekend
Seven new coronavirus cases were reported on Sunday in Idaho.
Along with those cases, the state’s total grew by one Monday morning. A new case was reported in Kootenai County, according to the Panhandle Health District. The county now has 61 positive cased of the virus.
With the recent additions, Idaho’s case count sits at 1,770 as of Sunday evening. Monday’s other new numbers were expected later in the day.
Cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in 33 of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 615, Adams 3, Bannock 5, Bingham 3, Blaine 483, Bonner 4, Bonneville 16, Camas 1, Canyon 221, Caribou 1, Cassia 12, Custer 2, Elmore 27, Fremont 2, Gem 10, Gooding 8, Idaho 3, Jefferson 4, Jerome 37, Kootenai 61, Latah 4, Lemhi 1, Lincoln 21, Madison 5, Minidoka 7, Nez Perce 49, Owyhee 8, Payette 11, Power 2, Teton 7, Twin Falls 133, Valley 2 and Washington 2.
Idaho has community spread in 15 counties: Ada, Bingham, Blaine, Bonneville, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Lemhi, Madison, Payette, Teton and Twin Falls.
More Idaho layoffs announced
Five Idaho companies have notified the state Department of Labor that they have laid off a combined 507 workers.
Riverence Holdings, which operates fish farms in western Twin Falls County, laid off 162 workers in Buhl, Filer, Wendell, Hagerman and Jerome, according to a notice filed under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.
ATCO, a Pocatello modular building manufacturer, laid off 158 workers.
The PotlatchDeltic Corp. laid off 164 workers at its St. Maries plywood plant.
Black Bear Diner laid off 21 workers at its restaurant at 7530 W. State St. in Boise.
Boise Cascade laid off 10 workers at its Homedale beam plant.
Generally, when companies with 100 or more workers shut down or have mass layoffs, they must file WARN notices.
The Department of Labor has now received notice of 1,300 layoffs statewide because of the coronavirus pandemic.
CCDC waives monthly parking fees for May
The Capital City Development Corp., Boise’s urban renewal arm, is waiving monthly parking fees for the month of May in its six downtown garages.
That marks the second month in a row that CCDC was waived fees. The garages have about 2,500 monthly customers, the agency said in a release.
“Although the ParkBOI system has remained open and keycards remain activated, less than 15% of our monthly customers are using the garages,” said John Brunelle, the agency’s executive director. “We believe usage will increase in May, but extending the fee waiver for our monthly customers is the right thing to do.”
CCDC will absorb the loss of revenue in its operating budget, according to the release. Some projects may be delayed until the next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1, but no projects are expected to be canceled.
Fees are expected to return to normal in June, the agency said in its release.
This story was originally published April 27, 2020 at 10:43 AM.
