Nez Perce Tribe suspects community spread; Twin Falls County has third-most cases
After reporting 30 or more confirmed cases of the coronavirus three of the past four days, Idaho added just 14 new cases on Saturday.
The counties with new cases, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, were Gooding (1 new, 20 total), Jerome (6 new, 80 total), Kootenai (1 new, 65 total), Twin Falls (4 new, 260 total) and Washington (2 new, 22 total). The statewide confirmed cases total stands at 2,204.
With 260 confirmed cases of COVID-19, Twin Falls County overtook Canyon County (257 cases) for the third most in the state. The South Central Public Health District issued a news release Friday urging residents to maintain social distancing guidelines to help mitigate the sudden surge in cases.
There are 216 “probable cases” throughout the state, an increase of 13 from Friday. Health and Welfare reports that 1,612 cases are “presumed recovered.”
Nez Perce Tribe reports community spread
Since Nimiipuu Health confirmed its first positive COVID-19 test on May 1, the facility has tested 137 people for the coronavirus, with 17 testing positive.
All positive tests were for people tested at the Lapwai clinic in Nez Perce County, and those results will be included in the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s data.
The ages of the those who tested positive range from 1 to 80, and there have been multiple asymptomatic individuals who have tested positive. It appears transmission of the virus now includes community spread on the Nez Perce Reservation.
“We want to test as many people as we can, provided testing kits and supplies remain available,” said Kim Hartwig, Nimiipuu Health medical director. “These tests indicate the extent of the virus’ presence on the Reservation. Amongst several unknowns, we are striving to manage the situation as best we can.”
Daily Details
Hospitalizations: Health and Welfare reports that there have been 213 hospitalizations due to the coronavirus, 89 admissions to the ICU and 293 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 Saturday, Health and Welfare reported that 36,456 tests had been completed statewide. About 6% have been positive for COVID-19.
Counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases: Ada 722, Adams 3, Bannock 10, Bingham 6, Blaine 497, Bonner 4, Bonneville 18, Camas 1, Canyon 257, Caribou 1, Cassia 17, Custer 2, Elmore 30, Fremont 2, Gem 12, Gooding 20, Idaho 3, Jefferson 5, Jerome 80, Kootenai 65, Latah 5, Lemhi 1, Lincoln 27, Madison 12, Minidoka 12, Nez Perce 70, Owyhee 8, Payette 17, Power 3, Teton 10, Twin Falls 260, Valley 2 and Washington 22.
Counties with community spread: 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 16, 2020 at 6:23 PM.
