Boise area experiences largest increase in coronavirus cases in more than 2 weeks
Ada County on Saturday experienced its largest increase in new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in more than two weeks.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added 227 cases to increase Ada County’s total confirmed caseload to 8,388. The Boise area had not seen a jump of more than 200 since July 22.
Ada County’s current 14-day average is 132.8 cases per day.
And it wasn’t just cases that saw a significant jump. Ada County also reported four additional deaths from the coronavirus, increasing its total to a state-high 81 fatalities. No details were provided on the latest deaths.
Analyzing county-by-county case counts from Health and Welfare compared with the case counts posted Friday by the state’s seven individual health districts, there were 536 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported Saturday. The statewide total grew to 23,001 confirmed cases.
Health and Welfare also reported 28 new “probable cases,” bringing that total to 1,542. Additionally, 8,921 people are now considered to be “recovered” from the virus.
Eastern Idaho Public Health announced the fourth coronavirus-related death in Bonneville County. The individual was a male in his 70s, according to EIPH.
“We are saddened by the death of this man and would like to express our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during their time of grief and loss,” Geri Rackow, EIPH director, said in a news release.
Idaho has lost 236 residents to the virus since the start of the pandemic, including 43 this month. At least 125 deaths have been residents of long-term care facilities. The case fatality rate is about 0.96%.
The other counties adding new confirmed cases Saturday were Boise (2 new, 38 total), Bonner (7 new, 178 total), Bonneville (38 new, 828 total), Canyon (95 new, 5,469 total), Elmore (7 new, 203 total), Franklin (1 new, 45 total), Fremont (1 new, 70 total), Gem (5 new, 161 total), Gooding (1 new, 146 total), Idaho (1 new, 31 total), Jefferson (3 new, 160 total), Jerome (3 new, 419 total), Kootenai (34 new, 1,779 total), Lemhi (7 new, 22 total), Madison (5 new, 130 total), Minidoka (2 new, 443 total), Nez Perce (15 new, 143 total), Owyhee (4 new, 241 total), Payette (7 new, 351 total), Shoshone (17 new, 96 total), Teton (5 new, 75 total), Twin Falls (44 new, 1,254 total), Valley (3 new, 55 total) and Washington (2 new, 190 total).
Daily Details
Overall hospitalizations: Health and Welfare reports that there have been 988 hospitalizations because of the coronavirus, 279 admissions to the ICU and 1,444 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.
St. Luke’s Health System: As of Aug. 7, the hospital was reporting a 14-day coronavirus testing positivity rate of 11%, with 59 patients currently hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 out of 420 patients overall.
Saint Alphonsus Health System: As of Aug. 7, the hospital was reporting a 14-day testing rate of 23.9%, with 47 patients currently hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 out of 399 patients overall.
Testing totals: At the end of the day Saturday, Health and Welfare reported that 203,289 tests had been completed statewide. About 11.3% of those have been positive for COVID-19.
Counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases: Ada 8,388, Adams 18, Bannock 386, Bear Lake 22, Benewah 54, Bingham 263, Blaine 560, Boise 38, Bonner 178, Bonneville 828, Boundary 37, Camas 1, Canyon 5,469, Caribou 29, Cassia 472, Clark 9, Clearwater 15, Custer 10, Elmore 203, Franklin 45, Fremont 70, Gem 161, Gooding 146, Idaho 31, Jefferson 160, Jerome 419, Kootenai 1,779, Latah 93, Lemhi 22, Lincoln 51, Madison 130, Minidoka 443, Nez Perce 143, Oneida 10, Owyhee 241, Payette 351, Power 56, Shoshone 96, Teton 75, Twin Falls 1,254, Valley 55 and Washington 190.
Counties with community spread: Ada, Bannock, Bear Lake, Benewah, Bingham, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Bonneville, Boundary, 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, Shoshone, Teton, Twin Falls, Valley and Washington.
This story was originally published August 8, 2020 at 6:45 PM.
