Coronavirus: What’s happening to Zoo Boise fundraiser, Boise libraries delay reopening
Zoo Boise is estimating it will lose almost 50% of its annual revenue in 2020, but the zoo is hoping its annual fundraiser, which is going digital this year, will help.
The zoo’s 10th annual Zoobilee event will take place on Friday, Aug. 28, live-streamed from 7-8 p.m. Viewers can tune in to enjoy behind-the-scenes videos. The zoo will auction zoo items. Other auctions and raffles will lead up to the event.
The zoo’s staff decided to hold the event remotely because of the coronavirus outbreak. “Wee waited as long as we could to make a decision, hoping that we would be able to do an in-person event, but that’s just not in the cards for this year,” the zoo said on its website.
The event is free to watch. Visit www.zooboise.org for more information.
Boise libraries delay reopening
The Boise Public Library will not reopen Monday as scheduled.
The library system says that because of Ada County’s return to Stage 3, libraries will not only be closed Friday and Saturday in observance of Independence Day, but will also be closed on Monday, July 6, until further notice.
“Following both state and local guidelines, we are taking a cautious approach to service expansions, and we continue to evaluate and adjust services as safety protocols allow,” says an announcement on the library’s website.
Curbside pickup of books and other items and computer access appointments are still available.
Ada County at risk of moving backward in reopening plans, community spread in North Central Idaho
Idaho’s most populous county might face another step back in the state’s reopening plan if local health officials deem it necessary.
Ada County reported 107 new cases Wednesday, which follows 102 being on Tuesday and 226 cases reported Monday. Monday’s total includes Sunday.
The consistent stream of cases gives the Central District Health Department the option to enact further restrictions on Ada County. The county could move back into Stage 2 of the state’s Idaho Rebounds plan.
Meanwhile, Idaho North Central District Health says its region — consisting of five counties — now has “widespread community transmission” of COVID-19. The counties are Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis and Nez Perce.
“We anticipate we will continue to see an increase in cases of COVID-19 in our district due to the large events that took place in June and are expected in July and August,” North Central Health Director Carol Moehrle said in a news release.
Health officials around Idaho reported 245 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday. This is the sixth time in nine days that Idaho has topped 200 new cases.
Following Ada, Canyon County reported the second-most cases Wednesday with 44. Kootenai followed with 28. Other counties reporting new cases include Bannock, Bear Lake, Brigham, Minidoka, Payette and Twin Falls.
The state Department of Health and Welfare reported 20 new “probable cases” on Wednesday, bringing the state’s total to 584. As of Wednesday evening, Idaho had 5,804 confirmed cases of the coronavirus.
No new deaths were reported Wednesday. The state’s total remains at 93.
Coronavirus cases have been reported in most of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 2,146, Adams 10, Bannock 94, Bear Lake 2, Benewah 13, Bingham 49, Blaine 523, Boise 4, Bonner 32, Bonneville 83, Boundary 1, Camas 1, Canyon 819, Caribou 14, Cassia 215, Clearwater 1, Custer 5, Elmore 59, Franklin 24, Fremont 6, Gem 22, Gooding 55, Idaho 5, Jefferson 13, Jerome 209, Kootenai 283, Latah 20, Lemhi 2, Lincoln 32, Madison 26, Minidoka 165, Nez Perce 84, Oneida 3, Owyhee 29, Payette 90, Power 16, Teton 19, Twin Falls 519, Valley 14 and Washington 97.
Community spread has been detected in 33 counties: Ada, Bannock, Benewah, Bingham, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Canyon, Caribou, Cassia, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Idaho, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Lemhi, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Nez Perce, Owyhee, Oneida, Payette, Power, Teton, Twin Falls, Valley and Washington.
This story was originally published July 2, 2020 at 11:40 AM.
