Idaho reports new coronavirus-related deaths for first time in eight days
Idaho’s seven-day streak without a coronavirus-related death came to an end Tuesday.
Two new deaths were reported in Twin Falls County by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. There have been a state-leading 25 deaths from COVID-19 in Twin Falls County and 85 statewide.
Of the state’s 85 deaths, at least 52 deaths were patients in long-term care facilities. The Magic Valley, which includes Twin Falls, accounted for 24 of those deaths as of Friday. The two latest deaths in Twin Falls County were a male and a female, both age 80 or older, according to demographics on IDHW’s website.
Over the last two days, Idaho also has seen a significant dip in the number of available ICU beds and ventilators. On Sunday, there were 487 ventilators and 114 ICU beds available. Those figures are now at 468 and 92, respectively. According to Gov. Brad Little’s Rebound Idaho plan, the state must have at least 50 ventilators and 50 ICU beds available to move to Stage 4.
The recent drop in available ICU beds and ventilators is likely because of an increase in elective surgeries, IDHW spokesperson Niki Forbing-Orr told the Idaho Statesman in an email.
Six of the state’s seven health districts reported updated coronavirus numbers Tuesday, combining for 29 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. New cases were added in Ada (7 new, 791 total), Bannock (3 new, 47 total), Benewah (1 new, 8 total), Bingham (1 new, 24 total), Bonner (1 new, 7 total), Elmore (1 new, 32 total), Jerome (2 new, 173 total), Kootenai (2 new, 87 total), Minidoka (4 new, 75 total) and Twin Falls (7 new, 386 total) counties. There have been 2,909 cases throughout the state.
There are 306 “probable cases” in the state, an increase of five from Monday. Health and Welfare reports that 2,554 cases are “presumed recovered.”
Little is scheduled to address the state’s potential move to Stage 4 of his Rebound Idaho plan on Thursday. Little’s press conference on the subject will be broadcast on Idaho Public Television beginning at 10 a.m.
DAILY DETAILS
Hospitalizations: Health and Welfare reports that there have been 262 hospitalizations due to the coronavirus, 99 admissions to the ICU and 348 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 Tuesday, Health and Welfare reported that 58,746 tests had been completed statewide. About 5% of those have been positive for COVID-19.
Counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases: Ada 791, Adams 3, Bannock 47, Benewah 8, Bingham 24, Blaine 503, Bonner 7, Bonneville 45, Camas 1, Canyon 316, Caribou 3, Cassia 104, Custer 2, Elmore 32, Franklin 8, Fremont 3, Gem 13, Gooding 47, Idaho 3, Jefferson 7, Jerome 173, Kootenai 87, Latah 6, Lemhi 1, Lincoln 31, Madison 17, Minidoka 75, Nez Perce 74, Owyhee 8, Payette 22, Power 7, Teton 10, Twin Falls 386, Valley 3 and Washington 42.
Counties with community spread: Ada, Bannock, Benewah, Bingham, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Lemhi, Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Power, Teton and Twin Falls.
