Coronavirus: Food giveaway planned for Thursday in Ada, Boise State closes campus
St. Vincent de Paul of Southwest Idaho has partnered with The Idaho Foodbank and other local entities for a drive-thru food distribution event on Thursday in Boise.
The event, dubbed the Great Idaho Food Drive, will take place from 3-8 p.m.
Those in need will be able to safely drive their cars through a line to receive two boxes of food, which will include meat, dairy, produce and other staple foods. There are no qualifications for the food boxes, and the only information that will be collected will be household size and Zip code, according to a news release.
Food will be distributed until all boxes are gone.
The food boxes will be distributed at Expo Idaho, and those interested should turn off at Glenwood Street and drive east in front of Memorial Stadium. From there, drivers will be directed east, where boxes will be distributed.
The event is part of the monthly food distribution in Ada County through the Farmers to Families Food program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
There is no cost or registration required.
Boise State temporarily closes facilities due to coronavirus
Boise State University announced Monday evening the temporary closure of campus facilities after several people tested positive for the coronavirus on campus, according to a news release from BSU.
The university said eight people who had recently been on campus tested positive or were presumed to be positive for the coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease.
In response to the positive cases, Boise State closed campus-owned and controlled facilities through Sunday, June 28. Facilities will be disinfected and cleaned throughout the week.
“During this time, 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,” the news release read.
No other employees, regardless of position or exposure to the virus, will be permitted on campus during the week of closure. University departments will provide services remotely.
“The goal remains the health and well-being of the community and the timely opening of campus for students in the fall,” the news release read.
Boise State and Central District Health are in the process of notifying those who were in contact with those who tested positive.
The Boise State football team also suspended voluntary workouts in response to the rash of positive cases that were announced Monday.
Idaho sees the most new cases in a day Monday
Around Idaho, 221 newly confirmed cases of the coronavirus were reported Monday — the most cases reported in a single day since the pandemic began.
Ada County reported over half of those cases, with a record 138. That brought the county’s total to 1,215 positive cases. The drastic increase in cases caused the Boise-based Central District Health to force Ada County back into the original Stage 3 of Idaho’s reopening plans, meaning that bars, nightclubs and larger venues will close Wednesday. Health officials have also barred groups of more than 50 from gathering in Ada.
In addition to Ada, Canyon County also reported an increased number of cases Monday. Southwest District Health said there were 30 new cases over Sunday and Monday in Canyon, bringing its total to 422.
Elsewhere in Idaho, new cases were reported in Bannock, Cassia, Jerome and Twin Falls counties, among others. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 13 new “probable cases” over the weekend, bringing the total to 434 around the state.
Idaho’s total confirmed coronavirus cases stood at 3,806 as of Tuesday morning. No new deaths were reported Monday, leaving Idaho’s total at 89.
Coronavirus cases have been reported in the majority of Idaho’s 44 counties: 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.
Community spread has been found in 26 Idaho counties: 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 23, 2020 at 11:00 AM.
