Idaho experiences deadliest day since coronavirus pandemic began, new cases hit record
A record eight new deaths from COVID-19 were announced in Idaho on Wednesday, surpassing a previous high of six reported on two occasions.
The state also broke its single-day high for new confirmed cases for the fourth time in the past seven days, with 585.
Ada County reported four new coronavirus-related deaths to increase its total to 29, according to Boise-based Central District Health. Canyon County reported three new deaths and Jerome County added one.
The statewide death toll from the virus now stands at 111, with a case fatality rate of about 0.89%.
According to demographic information provided by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare on seven of the deaths, four were in individuals 80 or older, two were in their 70s and one was in their 60s. Four of the deceased were male and three female.
Canyon County has 15 total deaths, nine of which have been reported since July 8. Canyon also established a single-day record with 269 new confirmed cases on Wednesday. The previous high was 234, set on July 11. Canyon County’s caseload and death count have ballooned since the start of the month, when it had 819 cases and six deaths.
The county’s case total has since reached 2,457, an increase of 200% since July 1. Southwest District Health, which serves Canyon County, will consider mandating face coverings at a board meeting Thursday morning — something Central District already has done for Ada County.
Ada County went a 13th consecutive day with 100 or more new cases, checking in with 199 on Wednesday, for a total of 4,602 cases.
The other counties adding new confirmed cases of the coronavirus were Bannock (8 new, 164 total), Bear Lake (1 new, 5 total), Bingham (3 new, 105 total), Blaine (2 new, 540 total), Bonner (7 new, 87 total), Bonneville (10 new, 175 total), Elmore (1 new, 105 total), Fremont (2 new, 13 total), Gem (6 new, 68 total), Gooding (5 new, 78 total), Jerome (1 new, 282 total), Kootenai (34 new, 812 total), Latah (1 new, 33 total), Madison (3 new, 63 total), Minidoka (3 new, 252 total), Owyhee (6 new, 95 total), Payette (14 new, 190 total), Shoshone (2 new, 14 total), Twin Falls (4 new, 759 total), Valley (2 new, 28 total) and Washington (3 new, 126 total).
Central District Health removed one case from Boise County, dropping its total to 11.
According to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, there are 808 probable cases across the state and 3,513 patients are presumed to have recovered. The state also reported 2,913 new COVID-19 tests on Wednesday.
Health and welfare also updated its hospitalization data, which shows currently 153 patients hospitalized statewide as of July 13, including 35 in intensive care. Both are the highest totals for the state since the start of the pandemic.
Nez Perce Tribe begins receiving test results
Nimiipuu Health hosted a pair of mass testing days for members of the Nez Perce Tribe on June 29 in Lapwai and July 4 in Kamiah.
Nearly 400 tests were conducted, but it is taking longer than expected for results to be returned from an external lab, Nimiipuu Health said.
“Testing in Idaho remains an issue. Although testing seems to be more readily available, there is still a deficiency in the capability to complete the testing process and get results returned quickly,” Nimiipuu Health stated in a press release. “Testing labs are also running swabs based on a set priority list; highest priority is going to hospitalized patients and medical providers, second is nursing homes and symptomatic patients, last is any other asymptomatic individual.”
Some results began returning July 9, and so far all returned results have been negative. Not all patient results have returned.
DAILY DETAILS
Hospitalizations: Health and Welfare reports that there have been 526 hospitalizations due to the coronavirus, 151 admissions to the ICU and 811 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 Wednesday, Health and Welfare reported that 136,055 tests had been completed statewide. About 8.6% of those have been positive for COVID-19.
Counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases: Ada 4,602, Adams 11, Bannock 164, Bear Lake 5, Benewah 22, Bingham 105, Blaine 540, Boise 11, Bonner 87, Bonneville 175, Boundary 8, Camas 1, Canyon 2,457, Caribou 20, Cassia 300, Clearwater 5, Custer 6, Elmore 105, Franklin 30, Fremont 13, Gem 68, Gooding 78, Idaho 13, Jefferson 28, Jerome 282, Kootenai 812, Latah 33, Lemhi 4, Lincoln 37, Madison 63, Minidoka 252, Nez Perce 102, Oneida 8, Owyhee 95, Payette 190, Power 19, Shoshone 14, Teton 35, Twin Falls 759, Valley 28 and Washington 126.
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 15, 2020 at 5:21 PM.
