‘Social gatherings’ contributed to recent rise in coronavirus cases in East Idaho
With coronavirus cases on the rise in the eastern portion of the state, Southeastern Idaho Public Health issued a press release Wednesday reminding residents of the potential risks of social gatherings.
Idaho’s seven health districts reported a combined 44 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 2,712 cases. Fourteen of those cases were between the Southeastern and Eastern Idaho health districts, which had been the two least-impacted districts until recently. Southeastern Idaho reported its first coronavirus death on Monday in Bannock County.
“Whenever you get together with those outside of your household, there is the potential risk of spreading COVID-19,” Southeastern Idaho Public Health Director Maggie Mann said in a press release. “Practicing physical distancing and wearing a cloth face covering is the new normal and should be practiced even as restrictions in Idaho move through the stages of reopening.”
SIPH emphasized that COVID-19 is “two to three times more contagious than the flu,” allowing the virus to spread rapidly from person to person. Individuals can be infected with the coronavirus and not have any symptoms and still pass the virus unknowingly to others. Social gatherings are a common denominator in the rise of cases of COVID-19 in southeast Idaho, SIPH said, and residents should maintain social distancing guidelines and wear a mask at all gatherings.
“As long as there are asymptomatic people in our communities, spread to others will continue to occur,” Mann said. “Asymptomatic individuals can worsen the spread and infection rate of COVID-19 now, considering that Idaho has begun to reopen most of its economy.”
Cases were added Wednesday in Ada (5 new, 768 total), Bannock (3 new, 34 total), Blaine (2 new, 503 total), Bonneville (7 new, 38 total), Canyon (3 new, 289 total), Caribou (1 new, 3 total), Cassia (2 new, 78 total), Elmore (1 new, 31 total), Gooding (2 new, 44 total), Jefferson (2 new, 7 total), Jerome (5 new, 156 total), Kootenai (3 new, 78 total), Madison (1 new, 16 total), Minidoka (3 new, 56 total), Nez Perce (1 new, 74 total), Payette (2 new, 21 total) and Twin Falls (2 new, 360 total) counties. Benewah County’s total was reduced by one to seven cases as the Panhandle Health District works to verify the individual’s address.
There are 281 “probable cases” throughout the state, an increase of eight from Tuesday. Health and Welfare reports that 2,311 cases are “presumed recovered.”
DAILY DETAILS
Hospitalizations: Health and Welfare reports that there have been 253 hospitalizations due to the coronavirus, 98 admissions to the ICU and 316 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 49,524 tests had been completed statewide. About 5.5% of those have been positive for COVID-19.
Counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases: Ada 768, Adams 3, Bannock 34, Benewah 7, Bingham 12, Blaine 503, Bonner 5, Bonneville 38, Camas 1, Canyon 289, Caribou 3, Cassia 78, Custer 2, Elmore 31, Franklin 7, Fremont 3, Gem 13, Gooding 44, Idaho 3, Jefferson 7, Jerome 156, Kootenai 78, Latah 6, Lemhi 1, Lincoln 30, Madison 16, Minidoka 56, Nez Perce 74, Owyhee 8, Payette 21, Power 6, Teton 10, Twin Falls 360, Valley 2 and Washington 37.
Counties with community spread: Ada, Bannock, Bingham, Blaine, Bonneville, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Lemhi, Owyhee, Madison, Minidoka, Payette, Power, Teton and Twin Falls.
