Idaho sets single-day coronavirus case record for the second time this week
Idaho reported more than 500 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, breaking the state’s single-day record for the second time this week.
Analyzing county-by-county case counts provided by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and Eastern Idaho Public Health, the state added 506 new confirmed cases between 21 counties. The Gem State has reported 9,817 cases since the start of the pandemic.
Canyon County announced a record 234 cases and one new death on Saturday. The county’s previous single-day high was 163 new cases on July 4. Through the first 11 days of July, Canyon County’s case count has ballooned from 819 cases to 1,919 on Saturday — an increase of about 134%.
The latest coronavirus-related death in Canyon County was a male in his 60s, according to demographic data provided by Health and Welfare. It was the 11th COVID-19 death in the county and the fifth reported in the last week.
Idaho has lost 102 people to the virus, which is a case fatality rate of about 0.97%.
Ada County went a ninth straight day with 100 or more new cases, this time checking in with 174 for a state-leading total of 3,757 cases. Boise-based Central District Health, which serves Ada, Boise, Elmore and Valley counties, said it will consider mandating face coverings within its district at its July 14 meeting.
The other counties adding new confirmed cases Saturday were Blaine (2 new, 536 total), Bonneville (8 new, 150 total), Cassia (16 new, 284 total), Custer (1 new, 6 total), Elmore (6 new, 89 total), Gem (9 new, 52 total), Gooding (1 new, 71 total), Jefferson (2 new, 20 total), Jerome (6 new, 260 total), Kootenai (8 new, 671 total), Lincoln (1 new, 37 total), Madison (2 new, 47 total), Minidoka (11 new, 235 total), Nez Perce (1 new, 96 total), Owyhee (9 new, 73 total), Payette (5 new, 150 total), Teton (3 new, 31 total), Twin Falls (6 new, 712 total) and Washington (1 new, 122 total).
Health and Welfare added 21 new “probable cases,” increasing the number to 730 statewide. It reported 2,891 new tests and 3,114 patients presumed to have recovered from the disease.
NNU reports first coronavirus case
A Northwest Nazarene University student who has been residing in on-campus housing has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a press release from the university. This is the first known case of COVID-19 on NNU’s Nampa campus.
The student, who has experienced minor symptoms, has been self-isolating since June 26 due to suspected exposure. The individual was tested July 4 and received the positive results Friday. They will continue to recover in their residence for the duration of their quarantine.
Contact tracing has been conducted and those who have had contact with the individual are in self-isolation away from campus. Other community members and students who are in campus housing are being notified, but have not been exposed, according to the university.
All campus buildings have been closed to the public since March 21.
NNU employees have been transitioning back to work on campus since June 15, but only a limited number of students have had campus access.
The university plans to resume in-person learning this fall.
Virus exposure at funerals in southeast Idaho
Southeastern Idaho Public Health says attendees of viewings and funerals in the city of Montpelier may have been exposed to COVID-19. The health district recommends that anyone who attended either a funeral or viewing on July 5, 6 or 7 monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms.
The risk of exposure is considered small, but not zero.
Anyone who develops symptoms is advised to contact their health care provider, SIPH said.
DAILY DETAILS
Hospitalizations: Health and Welfare reports there have been 468 hospitalizations due to the coronavirus, 139 admissions to the ICU and 735 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 Saturday, Health and Welfare reported that 124,531 tests had been completed statewide. About 7.9% of those have been positive for COVID-19.
Counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases: Ada 3,757, Adams 11, Bannock 137, Bear Lake 3, Benewah 22, Bingham 85, Blaine 536, Boise 8, Bonner 59, Bonneville 150, Boundary 5, Camas 1, Canyon 1,919, Caribou 19, Cassia 284, Clearwater 4, Custer 6, Elmore 89, Franklin 30, Fremont 9, Gem 52, Gooding 71, Idaho 13, Jefferson 20, Jerome 260, Kootenai 671, Latah 31, Lemhi 3, Lincoln 37, Madison 47, Minidoka 235, Nez Perce 96, Oneida 8, Owyhee 73, Payette 150, Power 19, Shoshone 8, Teton 31, Twin Falls 712, Valley 24 and Washington 122.
Counties with community spread: Ada, Bannock, Benewah, Bingham, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Canyon, Caribou, Cassia, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Fremont, Gem, Gooding, Idaho, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Nez Perce, Oneida, Owyhee, Payette, Power, Teton, Twin Falls, Valley and Washington.
This story was originally published July 11, 2020 at 12:26 PM.
