Coronavirus roundup: Community spread suspected in a new Idaho county
Idaho health officials have found community spread of the coronavirus in a new county: Minidoka.
According to the South Central Public Health District, at least one case has been detected in Minidoka County where the individual did not travel out of state or have contact with a coronavirus patient.
The health district said in a news release Friday that it expects cases in Minidoka County to rise, and residents should “assume the virus could be anywhere in the community and surrounding counties.”
As of Thursday evening, Minidoka had 12 overall coronavirus cases, and two new cases were reported the same day.
“Even as the state works toward reopening, we are still seeing new cases in almost all of our counties,” Logan Hudson, public health division administrator, said in the news release. “This is a good reminder that the virus is still very active and we all need to do our part to protect our communities. Practice social distancing. If an area is too crowded — leave.”
Officials are asking Minidoka residents to wear masks when out in public and continue to take precautions.
Minidoka is the 18th county in Idaho found to have community spread.
Idaho tallies three new deaths Thursday
On Thursday, Idaho heath officials reported three additional deaths and 30 new cases of the coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease.
The new fatalities were reported in Ada and Twin Falls counties, with one and two reported deaths, respectively. Twin Falls County has 13 reported deaths and Ada now has 21, the most of any county in Idaho.
Of the three deaths, two were people in their 70s and one was in their 80s. Two of the deceased were women and one was a man, according to statistics from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
New cases were reported in Ada and Twin Falls counties, as well as Jerome, Minidoka and Payette. Three new cases were also reported in Washington County, as the county’s outbreak has been linked to a Fry Foods processing plant in Weiser. The county has 13 reported cases.
The plant was shut down earlier this week after at least seven employees tested positive for the virus. Crush the Curve, an effort co-founded by local businessman and doctor Tommy Ahlquist, is offering free testing to all plant employees and close contacts.
Coronavirus cases have been found in 33 of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 714, Adams 3, Bannock 10, Bingham 6, Blaine 496, Bonner 4, Bonneville 17, Camas 1, Canyon 256, Caribou 1, Cassia 16, Custer 2, Elmore 30, Fremont 2, Gem 12, Gooding 19, Idaho 3, Jefferson 5, Jerome 72, Kootenai 64, Latah 5, Lemhi 1, Lincoln 27, Madison 12, Minidoka 12, Nez Perce 70, Owyhee 8, Payette 16, Power 3, Teton 10, Twin Falls 246, Valley 2 and Washington 13.
Community spread has been found in 18 Idaho counties: Ada, Bannock, Bingham, Blaine, Bonneville, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Lemhi, Owyhee, Madison, Minidoka, Payette, Teton and Twin Falls.
This story was originally published May 15, 2020 at 10:03 AM.
