Idaho’s coronavirus testing positivity percentage remains among highest in the country
Idaho’s coronavirus testing positivity percentage decreased for the second straight week, but it is still far higher than health experts would like to see.
For the week of July 19-25, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare said Thursday there were 17,746 COVID-19 tests conducted throughout the Gem State with a positivity percentage of 13.2%. That’s down from a high of 14.9% for July 5-11 and the 13.8% reported for July 12-18.
The July 19-25 data won’t be complete until next week’s update because of delays in testing results.
During the reopening process, the World Health Organization advised governments that rates of positivity in testing should remain at 5% or lower for at least 14 days.
“If a positivity rate is too high, that may indicate that the state is only testing the sickest patients who seek medical attention and is not casting a wide enough net to know how much of the virus is spreading within its communities,” according to Johns Hopkins. “A low rate of positivity in testing data can be seen as a sign that a state has sufficient testing capacity for the size of their outbreak and is testing enough of its population to make informed decisions about reopening.”
Idaho currently has the fifth-highest positivity rate in the country, according to Johns Hopkins, behind only Mississippi, Alabama, Arizona and Florida.
According to data gathered from IDHW and the state’s individual health districts, there were 522 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus reported statewide on Thursday and four new deaths. Idaho now has 19,091 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 180 fatalities and a case fatality rate of about 0.89%.
Ada County added three new deaths for a state-leading total of 56, while Twin Falls reported one additional death for a total of 30. No details were provided.
Canyon and Ada counties each added more than 100 new confirmed cases Thursday. Ada County’s total grew by 167 cases to 7,232. Canyon County reached 4,433 total cases, including 127 new. Kootenai County also saw a significant increase with 83 additional cases for 1,487 total cases.
The other counties reporting new cases Thursday were Bannock (7 new, 302 total), Benewah (1 new, 40 total), Bingham (10 new, 198 total), Boise (3 new, 30 total), Bonner (2 new, 135 total), Bonneville (27 new, 522 total), Boundary (1 new, 34 total), Caribou (1 new, 29 total), Cassia (4 new, 405 total), Elmore (9 new, 187 total), Franklin (1 new, 39 total), Fremont (2 new, 36 total), Gem (4 new, 136 total), Gooding (2 new, 113 total), Jefferson (12 new, 104 total), Jerome (6 new, 357 total), Latah (1 new, 69 total), Madison (3 new, 103 total), Minidoka (2 new, 386 total), Nez Perce (3 new, 112 total), Owyhee (14 new, 205 total), Payette (7 new, 286 total), Power (5 new, 41 total), Shoshone (7 new, 63 total), Teton (1 new, 51 total), Twin Falls (6 new, 1,049 total), Valley (1 new, 43 total) and Washington (3 new, 171 total).
Health and Welfare also reported 50 new “probable cases,” bringing the total number of probable cases to 1,226. Additionally, 6,744 people are now considered to be “recovered” from the virus.
Daily details
Hospitalizations: Health and Welfare reports that there have been 835 hospitalizations due to the coronavirus, 247 admissions to the ICU and 1,189 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 Thursday, Health and Welfare reported that 177,884 tests had been completed statewide. About 10.7% of those have been positive for COVID-19.
Counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases: Ada 7,232, Adams 17, Bannock 302, Bear Lake 12, Benewah 40, Bingham 198, Blaine 551, Boise 30, Bonner 135, Bonneville 522, Boundary 34, Camas 1, Canyon 4,433, Caribou 29, Cassia 405, Clark 2, Clearwater 14, Custer 7, Elmore 187, Franklin 39, Fremont 36, Gem 136, Gooding 113, Idaho 26, Jefferson 104, Jerome 357, Kootenai 1,487, Latah 69, Lemhi 10, Lincoln 44, Madison 103, Minidoka 386, Nez Perce 112, Oneida 9, Owyhee 205, Payette 286, Power 41, Shoshone 63, Teton 51, Twin Falls 1,049, Valley 43 and Washington 171.
Counties with community spread: Ada, Bannock, Bear Lake, Benewah, Bingham, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Bonneville, Canyon, Caribou, Cassia, Clark, 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 30, 2020 at 7:31 PM.
