Coronavirus: New testing effort launches; more Idaho national forest sites to reopen
Idaho has a new plan for coronavirus testing as the state reopens during a pandemic. Businesses that are considered higher risk for outbreaks, like nursing homes and meatpacking facilities, are among the top priorities for COVID-19 tests.
But how does that happen? Especially when not everyone has guaranteed access to testing supplies? And who pays for it?
Crush The Curve Idaho on Thursday morning went to Veranda Senior Living in Meridian to conduct the first of what it believes will be many trainings for an on-site testing program. It tested about 200 staff and residents at the facility.
“We hear from companies every day who are scrambling to find solutions. Many companies are frustrated by guidelines telling them ‘what’ they need to do to comply without clear direction on ‘how?’“ the initiative’s executive director, Tina Upson, said in a news release. “We have been working closely with business owners and the state to deliver the ‘how.’”
Facilities in the first two testing priority groups — where even asymptomatic employees may need to be regularly tested — can sign up for testing at CrushTheCurveIdaho.com/resources.
According to Crush The Curve, the program can accommodate up to 16,000 tests a day, or 112,000 a week. It will cost $30 per test, as opposed to the average cost of $160, the organization said.
Facilities will receive collection kits, labels, lab slips and shipping supplies. The staff will receive training in specimen collection. The facilities will then ship the self-collected test samples directly to a lab in Memphis, Tennessee, which will report results to the individuals tested, the facility, the state and the local health districts in one to two days, Crush The Curve said.
More options for summer camping in Idaho
On Saturday, the Salmon Challis National Forest will open more developed recreation sites, in addition to the 30 opened earlier this month.
The Forest Service is reopening its sites in a phased approach, allowing the agency to remain responsive to local conditions, according to a press release.
“While we understand there may be some excitement to return to these recreation areas, there may be limited services or spaces available,” said Forest Supervisor Chuck Mark in the release. “We ask that visitors please continue to follow local, state and federal guidelines on staying safe, and practice good hygiene and social distancing wherever they choose to visit.”
The agency asks visitors to stay as local as possible when choosing a site to visit and to pack out everything they bring, especially trash. Visitors are also urged to take the precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with local health and safety guidance.
Twin Falls County adds another death to its total
Idaho’s coronavirus death total grew to 82 on Wednesday, as another fatality was reported in Twin Falls County. The county has reported 23 deaths from COVID-19. According to demographics from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, the person who died was a non-Hispanic white woman over the age of 80.
In total, 30 newly confirmed cases were reported Wednesday. Twin Falls had the most new cases of any county, adding eight. Other counties with newly reported cases included Ada, Blaine, Canyon and Jerome.
As of Wednesday, there were 2,493 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Idaho. State health officials also report 246 “probable cases” of the virus.
Coronavirus cases have been confirmed in 34 of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 749, Adams 3, Bannock 17, Benewah 4, Bingham 6, Blaine 501, Bonner 4, Bonneville 23, Camas 1, Canyon 268, Caribou 1, Cassia 49, Custer 2, Elmore 30, Fremont 2, Gem 13, Gooding 38, Idaho 3, Jefferson 5, Jerome 135, Kootenai 66, Latah 6, Lemhi 1, Lincoln 30, Madison 13, Minidoka 38, Nez Perce 73, Owyhee 8, Payette 19, Power 3, Teton 10, Twin Falls 338, Valley 2 and Washington 32.
Community spread has been detected in 18 Idaho counties: Ada, Bannock, Bingham, Blaine, Bonneville, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Lemhi, Owyhee, Madison, Minidoka, Payette, Teton and Twin Falls.
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 9:07 AM.
