Ada, Canyon counties see major increase in coronavirus cases, and state total balloons
Ada County took a huge step backward Monday due to increasing cases of the coronavirus, but other counties have consistently seen new cases, too.
Ada County reported a record 138 new confirmed cases Monday, bringing the county total to 1,215 people infected. (That count includes Sunday as well, since Sunday updates are no longer provided.) Central District Health said Monday that in Ada County, every infected person is expected to lead to seven more cases.
The outbreak led to Central District Health’s decision to move back to the original Stage 3 of the reopening plan, closing bars and large venues, and banning groups of more than 50 people from gathering.
Statewide, 221 new confirmed cases were reported Monday — the most in a single reporting day.
Canyon County also saw a spike, with 30 new reported cases covering Sunday and Monday, bringing the county total to 422, according to Southwest District Health. That was a new high for Canyon, too, but the district does not have plans to further its restrictions at this time, according to its director.
“We are closely monitoring surveillance, epidemiologic and hospital data to prevent a situation where health care system resources may be exceeded,” Nikki Zogg said in a written statement to the Statesman. “While the rise of new cases is concerning, the impact to emergency departments and hospitals remains low. Over the past few weeks, 57% of our cases have been in people under age 35, which tend to have mild symptoms and require less health care resources.”
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhy our case numbers might differ from the state's
The Idaho Statesman is tabulating confirmed coronavirus cases from Idaho’s seven health districts as they’re reported. The health districts report cases on their own schedules — some issue press releases, some simply update totals on their websites. And the reports happen at various times throughout the day.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, meanwhile, updates its statewide numbers once a day at about 5 p.m. Its numbers only include the cases the health districts have reported directly to the department. In some cases, health districts have reported cases publicly but not to the department by the daily deadline.
We break out each day’s new cases by county and provide details on each case when available here.
Zogg said SWDH has received numerous reports over the past few weeks from concerned citizens, health care partners and community leaders of gatherings where social distancing measures are not being followed.
“We ask that our community please be cautious and assess both personal and community risk carefully when deciding to gather with individuals outside of their household,” Zogg wrote.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported higher case numbers than what the South Central Public Health District reported for Twin Falls, Jerome, Cassia and Minidoka counties. The Statesman chose to go with the local health district’s numbers.
The Southeast Public Health District saw 11 new cases on Sunday-Monday, bringing Bannock County’s caseload up to 79 people and Franklin County’s up to 20.
Overall, the newly reported cases of the virus bring the statewide total to 3,806 confirmed cases through Monday.
In addition, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 434 “probable cases” of coronavirus (13 new since Saturday).
The state estimates that of the infected people, 3,405 are recovered. Idaho has seen 89 deaths as a result of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, since March, and no additional fatalities were reported over the weekend.
The peak in Ada County also led to the closure of Boise State University’s campus and all BSU facilities starting Tuesday and stretching through Sunday. BSU made the announcement after eight people tested positive or were presumed positive for COVID-19 within 48 hours.
Until the campus reopens, the only individuals authorized to be in these facilities are security staff and housing administrative staff who are necessary to assist students who remain in campus housing, according to a BSU news release. No other employees, vendors or contractors — regardless of position, exposure or test results — are permitted on campus during this time.
DAILY DETAILS
Hospitalizations: Health and Welfare reports that there have been 293 hospitalizations due to the coronavirus, 102 admissions to the ICU and 416 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 Monday, Health and Welfare reported that 75,730 tests had been completed statewide. About 5% of those have been positive for COVID-19.
Counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases: Ada 1,215, Adams 9, Bannock 79, Benewah 13, Bingham 31, Blaine 509, Bonner 14, Bonneville 65, Camas 1, Canyon 422, Caribou 8, Cassia 150, Custer 2, Elmore 41, Franklin 20, Fremont 3, Gem 15, Gooding 51, Idaho 3, Jefferson 10, Jerome 188, Kootenai 128, Latah 8, Lemhi 2, Lincoln 31, Madison 21, Minidoka 101, Nez Perce 77, Owyhee 16, Payette 36, Power 15, Teton 13, Twin Falls 426, Valley 3 and Washington 80.
Counties with community spread: Ada, Bannock, Benewah, Bingham, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Canyon, Caribou, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Lemhi, Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Power, Teton, Twin Falls and Washington.
This story was originally published June 22, 2020 at 6:30 PM.
