Coronavirus: More Idaho inmates test positive for COVID-19, casinos to require masks
Two more people incarcerated in an Idaho prison have tested positive for the coronavirus, along with many more staff members.
In a daily report issued Thursday, Idaho Department of Corrections Director Josh Tewalt wrote that two more cases were found in the Idaho State Correctional Center — a facility that holds over 2,103 male inmates in Kuna.
The positives bring the department’s overall COVID-19 cases among inmates to only three, as the first positive from an IDOC inmate was reported Wednesday. All three cases have been limited to people in the same tier and cell block.
That cell block is now under quarantine, according to IDOC’s website. Tewalt wrote that the department will have the first “mass-testing event” Monday at ISCC, starting in the cell block where the positives have been found.
IDOC has reported that 13 staff members have tested positive for the virus, with eight of those positives being found this week. Of those who tested positive, five work at ISCC, according to Tewalt’s report. Another 27 staffers are not at work as a result of being in close contact with those who tested positive.
A total of 93 people incarcerated in Idaho prisons have been tested for the coronavirus, with 66 tests coming back negative. As of Thursday evening, 24 people tested are awaiting results. In the Eagle Pass, Texas, facility were many Idaho inmates are held, all 13 coronavirus tests taken have returned negative.
Tewalt went on to write that staff will be required to wear masks at work, saying it is no longer optional.
“It quite literally is the most basic thing each of us can do to better protect ourselves and others,” Tewalt wrote. “It also isn’t just an Ada County or Treasure Valley problem. None of our facilities are immune so long as community spread is occurring in the state.”
Boise State extends closure of campus after more cases reported
After learning of more positive cases of the coronavirus, Boise State University announced Friday that the campus will remain closed until at least Sunday, July 5.
University officials first announced Monday that the campus would be closed (with the exception of a handful of staff) after several people who later tested positive for COVID-19 were at BSU. On Friday, the university announced in an email to staff that roughly 20 additional positive cases have been reported on campus, with “dozens more” still pending.
Due to the new infections, the campus will be closed all next week. Extending the campus closure will allow for people who may have been unknowingly exposed to the virus to go get tested.
Campus officials cited several issues: unanticipated delays in processing and communicating test results; a lack of robust contact tracing; and a high rate of infection and transmission in Boise.
The university added that wearing masks and practicing physical distancing greatly reduce the risk of catching COVID-19, but “there has been a lack of compliance with these campus requirements that cannot continue.” Officials also said that anyone who is symptomatic or has been exposed to the virus should not come to campus.
The email continues: “Because testing capacity is limited, members of the campus community should not test solely for the purpose of returning to campus unless they are instructed to do so by the university.”
Two North Idaho casinos to require face masks
Two casinos in North Idaho — the Clearwater River Casino in Lewiston and the It’se Ye-Ye Casino in Kamiah — will require all patrons to wear face masks starting Friday.
The casinos are implementing the changes due to “the increase of positive COVID-19 cases in both Washington and Idaho,” according to a news release from Kayeloni Scott, a spokesperson for the Nez Perce Tribe.
In addition to requiring the masks, no smoking will be permitted inside the building. Staff will take temperature readings of customers when entering, and the casinos’ capacity will be limited. The casinos will be open Sunday through Thursday 8 a.m. to midnight; and Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Masks and sanitizing products will be available for customers at both casinos.
Boise police warn of unemployment fraud
The Boise Police Department is warning the public of a new scam involving unemployment claims, according to a news release.
The department has received 16 reports of fraudsters opening unemployment claims in others’ names and cashing in on benefits. You should never post screenshots of an unemployment claim on social media, or provide provide personal information — such as a Social Security number or unemployment benefit claim number — over social media to someone offering to resolve your issues.
Police say that if you receive information in the mail from the Department of Labor about an unemployment claim you didn’t file, notify several agencies about the possible fraud. Here’s what police say you should do:
- Contact your employer about the fraudulent claim (they will likely receive something from the labor department if they have not already).
- Contact the Idaho Department of Labor (use their fraud reporting instructions, call (877) 540-8638 or email Fraud@labor.idaho.gov).
- File a police report, by calling non-emergency dispatch, 208-377-6790 or by filing online.
- File an identity theft complaint with the FTC (www.FTC.gov).
- Report the activity to the credit bureaus — place a fraud alert or freeze your credit (Experian, Equifax, Transunion).
- Run your credit report to look for fraudulent activity (www.annualcreditreport.com).
Idaho sees new record for coronavirus cases, Ada again tops 100 new cases
Yet another Idaho county reported its first coronavirus case this week, as cases skyrocketed.
In a press release Friday morning, public health officials with the North Idaho Central District announced the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Clearwater County. The case is that of a person in their 20s, who is recovering at home.
As of Friday, epidemiologists with the health district have yet to determine how this person contracted the virus. The investigation is still in the preliminary stages, according to the news release.
Clearwater County is the 38th county in Idaho with a case of the coronavirus. It is the third county to report its first case since Thursday, as Boise and Boundary counties reported cases for the first time as well.
On Thursday, Idaho set a new record for cases reported in a day, as health officials around the state found 223 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19. Nearly half of those were attributed to Ada County, which reported 112 new cases Thursday — the second-most cases reported in a single day. As of Thursday evening, Ada has reported 1,492 cases.
Canyon County reported 52 new cases were just a day after 53 other cases were made public. Canyon County is now home to the second-most confirmed cases in Idaho, passing Blaine County on Thursday.
Community spread was also detected in two new counties — Custer and Valley. Central District Health officials said Valley County has three cases, one of which has required hospitalization. The two new areas bring Idaho to a total of 28 counties with reports of community spread.
New coronavirus cases were reported Thursday in Bonner, Cassia, Gem, Kootenai, Payette and Twin Falls, among others. One case was removed from Bonneville County’s totals after a data input error, according to Eastern Idaho Public Health.
Idaho has reported 4,405 confirmed cases of the coronavirus since the pandemic began. No new deaths were reported Thursday, and the state’s death total remains at 90.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 20 new “probable cases” Thursday, bringing the state’s total to 499. State health officials also report that 3,712 cases are “presumed recovered.”
Coronavirus cases have been reported in the majority of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 1,492, Adams 9, Bannock 82, Benewah 13, Bingham 31, Blaine 517, Boise 1, Bonner 24, Bonneville 71, Boundary 1, Camas 1, Canyon 542, Caribou 13, Cassia 173, Clearwater 1, Custer 4, Elmore 46, Franklin 21, Fremont 4, Gem 16, Gooding 52, Idaho 3, Jefferson 11, Jerome 198, Kootenai 169, Latah 9, Lemhi 2, Lincoln 32, Madison 21, Minidoka 122, Nez Perce 79, Owyhee 21, Payette 52, Power 15, Teton 14, Twin Falls 451, Valley 6 and Washington 87.
Community spread has been detected in 28 Idaho counties: Ada, Bannock, Benewah, Bingham, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Canyon, Caribou, Cassia, Custer, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Lemhi, Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Power, Teton, Twin Falls, Valley and Washington.
This story was originally published June 26, 2020 at 9:31 AM.
