Coronavirus: Little diverts millions to schools, USDA offers COVID-19 relief funds
Idaho Gov. Brad Little announced Friday that he would divert $50 million in federal CARES Act funds to improve coronavirus testing around the state and provide schools with necessary protective equipment in the hopes of reopening classrooms this fall.
Of the money, $10 million will specifically go toward “additional masks, gloves, sanitizer and plexiglass for Idaho schools as they reopen,” according to a news release from Little’s office.
The remaining $40 million will go toward testing school staff, improving testing for long-term care facilities, boosting testing lab turnaround times and improving access to testing in rural areas of Idaho.
Over $122 million of Idaho’s CARES Act funding has been diverted to K-12 public education, according to the news release.
“Our number one focus is to get our kids back in school safely for in-person instruction, and the additional funds approved today help get us there,” Little said in the news release. “It’s imperative that students return to their classrooms and interact directly with their teachers and classmates.”
The Friday announcement echoes Little’s previously announced goal of having schools open and in-person this fall. During a July 9 press conference at the Idaho Capitol, Little and the State Board of Education announced a framework for the reopening of public schools.
Department of Agriculture taking applications for coronavirus relief funds
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is encouraging farmers to apply now for its coronavirus relief program.
Applications for the USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, or CFAP, will be open until Aug. 28, and food producers of any size may apply. The program is geared to benefit farmers and food producers whose business has been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
As of July 23, the USDA has already approved nearly 4,000 applications and distributed $125 million to food producers. CFAP provides relief for those who produce a range of commodities, including apples, potatoes, soybeans and more.
To apply and access the full list of commodities eligible for for the program, visit www.farmers.gov/cfap. For support, contact the CFAP call center at 877-508-8364 to talk with a USDA employee.
Ada County Relay for Life goes virtual
The Ada County Relay for Life event, which raises money for the American Cancer Society, has been called off due to the coronavirus outbreak. Instead, organizers will host an online event on Aug. 8.
The event will be live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube, and participants may visit www.relayforlife.org/adacountyid for more information.
“During this difficult time, cancer won’t stop, and neither will we,” said event co-lead Whitney Stoolman in a news release. “Even though we cannot currently be face-to-face, we’re committed to continuing to fight cancer head-on and hope that you will stand together with us, even when we’re apart.”
Six deaths reported, health care worker cases pass 1,000
In the past nine days, state and local health officials have reported 39 coronavirus-related deaths in Idaho, including six new deaths Thursday.
Ada County reported three of Thursday’s deaths, bringing its total to 44 since the outbreak began. Canyon County reported a single death, making it the third-straight day with at least one new COVID-19-related death. Kootenai County accounted for two deaths, the fist time the county reported a death since June. Its total now sits at three.
Demographic information, such as sex and age, of those who died were not available from state and local health officials. Idaho has reported 142 coronavirus-related deaths.
In Kootenai, the Panhandle Health District passed a measure to mandate the wearing of masks effective immediately. The board voted 4-2 to pass the measure after an in-person public hearing that featured multiple Kootenai residents telling the board they would oppose a mask mandate.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 32 new health care workers with the virus on Thursday, bringing the total to 1,012 in the state. In the past four days, 128 new health care workers have tested positive for COVID-19.
Idaho’s local health districts reported 435 confirmed coronavirus cases on Thursday, bringing the total cases in the state to 15,758 as of Thursday evening. It was the 15th time in the past 17 days where over 400 new cases were reported. IDHW also reported 29 new “probable cases” on Thursday, bringing the state’s total to 1,030.
With a state-high 170 new cases reported Thursday, Ada County’s coronavirus case total grew to 6,236. Just behind Ada was Canyon County, which reported 84 new cases Thursday.
New cases were reported Thursday in counties like Bannock, Bear Lake, Boundary, Gem, Minidoka and Owyhee, among others. Double-digit totals were reported Thursday in Bonner (12), Bonneville (17), Kootenai (56) and Twin Falls (26).
Coronavirus cases have been reported in the majority of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 6,236, Adams 14, Bannock 236, Bear Lake 9, Benewah 30, Bingham 140, Blaine 545, Boise 19, Bonner 108, Bonneville 318, Boundary 27, Camas 1, Canyon 3,557, Caribou 22, Cassia 348, Clearwater 13, Custer 7, Elmore 126, Franklin 35, Fremont 26, Gem 109, Gooding 88, Idaho 22, Jefferson 54, Jerome 316, Kootenai 1,195, Latah 54, Lemhi 7, Lincoln 40, Madison 84, Minidoka 308, Nez Perce 105, Oneida 8, Owyhee 156, Payette 236, Power 25, Shoshone 36, Teton 44, Twin Falls 865, Valley 39 and Washington 150.
Community spread has been detected in 36 Idaho counties: Ada, Bannock, Benewah, Bingham, Blaine, Boise, 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 24, 2020 at 11:01 AM.
