Eight counties add coronavirus cases as Idaho approaches Stage 2 of reopening process
Eight Idaho counties added confirmed coronavirus cases Wednesday, and Ada County led the way with seven.
Ada County now has 708 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 21 deaths, both of which are the most in the state, according to Boise-based Central District Health.
There were 21 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the state Wednesday for a total of 2,128 in Idaho. Other counties announcing cases were Canyon (1 new, 255 total), Cassia (1 new, 16 total), Gooding (1 new, 18 total), Jerome (3 new, 70 total), Minidoka (1 new, 10 total), Twin Falls (4 new, 235 total) and Washington (3 new, 10 total).
The Idaho Statesman gathered county-specific information from the state’s seven individual health districts, with the exception of Southwest District Health, which includes Canyon and Washington counties. SWDH did not update its website Wednesday, so figures were pulled from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s website.
The sudden jump in cases in Washington County, which had just one case as of May 9, can be attributed to an outbreak at Fry Foods in Weiser. At least seven of its employees have tested positive for COVID-19 since Sunday, according to Doug Wold, human resources manager for the Oregon/Idaho region of Fry Foods.
There are 198 “probable cases” throughout the state, an increase of four from Tuesday. Health and Welfare reports that 1,557 cases are “presumed recovered.”
Gov. Brad Little is hosting a press conference at 1 p.m. Thursday regarding Stage 2 of Idaho’s reopening process, which would allow for dine-in eating at restaurants, and let salons and indoor gyms open. The press conference will be available on Idaho Public Television.
Daily Details
Hospitalizations: Health and Welfare reports that there have been 212 hospitalizations due to the coronavirus, 88 admissions to the ICU and 282 health care workers who have been infected. The hospital and health care numbers are based on cases with completed investigations into contacts, not the full number of positives.
Testing totals: At the end of the day Wednesday, Health and Welfare reported that 33,556 tests had been completed statewide. About 6.3% have been positive for COVID-19.
Counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases: Ada 708, Adams 3, Bannock 9, Bingham 6, Blaine 496, Bonner 4, Bonneville 17, Camas 1, Canyon 255, Caribou 1, Cassia 16, Custer 2, Elmore 30, Fremont 2, Gem 12, Gooding 18, Idaho 3, Jefferson 4, Jerome 70, Kootenai 64, Latah 5, Lemhi 1, Lincoln 27, Madison 12, Minidoka 10, Nez Perce 70, Owyhee 8, Payette 14, Power 3, Teton 10, Twin Falls 235, Valley 2 and Washington 10.
Counties with community spread: Ada, Bannock, Bingham, Blaine, Bonneville, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Lemhi, Owyhee, Madison, Payette, Teton and Twin Falls.
Idaho Statesman reporter Nicole Foy contributed to this report.
This story was originally published May 13, 2020 at 7:58 PM.
