Coronavirus: Boise buses to begin collecting fares again; new cases in eastern Idaho
If Idaho moves into Stage 4 of its rebound on June 13, Valley Regional Transit announced Wednesday that it would start collecting fares once again.
The agency stopped collecting fares March 21 to promote social distancing between riders and drivers by reducing time at the fare box. Riders were also asked to enter through the back door.
Single-ride adult fare will be $1.50 for local service and $4.50 for universal service, including that between Ada and Canyon counties. One-day passes are $2.50 for local service and $7.50 for universal service.
The cost for children 6-18, people with disabilities and Medicare cardholders is half of the standard full fare.
The agency also plans to reopen its Main Street Station in downtown Boise on Monday, June 15. Other VRT facilities, including the customer service office in Meridian and the Happy Day Transit Center in Caldwell, reopened June 1.
The agency asks riders not to use public transit if they are sick and to sit as far from other passengers as possible.
Case counts rise in eastern Idaho
As coronavirus case counts in southwestern Idaho begin to slow, more positive cases are showing up in eastern Idaho.
The Southeastern Idaho Public Health district reported seven new cases Tuesday among Bannock, Bingham and Caribou counties. Four new cases were reported among Cassia, Jerome and Minidoka counties, according to the South Central Public Health District.
In addition to the new cases, the health district also identified community spread in Gooding County, the 21st county to report such a transmission.
Washington and Ada both reported single new cases, bringing Ada County’s total to a state-high of 763 cases.
In total, 13 newly confirmed cases of the coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease, were reported Tuesday in Idaho. The state’s total number of confirmed cases is 2,668. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 10 more “probable cases” Tuesday, totaling 273 such cases.
No new deaths were reported Tuesday, and Idaho’s death total remains at 83.
Coronavirus cases have been confirmed in a majority of Idaho counties: Ada 763, Adams 3, Bannock 31, Benewah 8, Bingham 12, Blaine 501, Bonner 5, Bonneville 31, Camas 1, Canyon 286, Caribou 2, Cassia 76, Custer 2, Elmore 30, Franklin 7, Fremont 3, Gem 13, Gooding 42, Idaho 3, Jefferson 5, Jerome 151, Kootenai 75, Latah 6, Lemhi 1, Lincoln 30, Madison 15, Minidoka 53, Nez Perce 73, Owyhee 8, Payette 19, Power 6, Teton 10, Twin Falls 358, Valley 2 and Washington 37.
Community spread has been detected in 21 Idaho counties: Ada, Bannock, Bingham, Blaine, Bonneville, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Lemhi, Owyhee, Madison, Minidoka, Payette, Power, Teton and Twin Falls.
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