Idaho’s COVID average below 400 on back-to-back days — first time in more than a month
Idaho had averaged more than 400 new cases of COVID-19 per day for more than a month, but the onslaught is finally showing signs of a downturn.
There were 313 new confirmed cases added to the state’s total on Saturday, which dropped Idaho’s 14-day moving average to 371.1 cases per day. The average dipped below 400 on Friday for the first time since July 11 after peaking at 521.5 on July 22.
While statewide cases appear to be slowing, several hot spots have yet to level off. Ada County added 114 new cases Saturday, followed by Canyon County with 65 cases. The two counties lead the state with 9,913 and 6,388 cases, respectively. Bonneville (24 new, 1,262 total), Jefferson (15 new, 260 total), Jerome (10 new, 499 total), Kootenai (23 new, 2,047) and Payette (27,494 total) counties also reported significant increases.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced two new deaths from the coronavirus in Canyon County (64 total). Updated demographics on the IDHW website indicate the latest deaths were both individuals in their 70s.
Idaho has lost 307 residents to the virus, with long-term care facilities accounting for at least 172 of those deaths. The case fatality rate is about 1.03%.
The other counties adding new confirmed cases were Adams (1 new, 23 total), Blaine (1 new, 576 total), Caribou (1 new, 34 total), Custer (1 new, 18 total), Fremont (1 new, 85 total), Gem (3 new, 184 total), Gooding (2 new, 172 total), Idaho (1 new, 39 total), Lemhi (2 new, 50 total), Madison (6 new, 172 total), Nez Perce (2 new, 211 total), Owyhee (3 new, 264 total), Shoshone (3 new, 181 total), Teton (1 new, 101 total), Twin Falls (6 new, 1,428 total), Valley (1 new, 75 total) and Washington (1 new, 240 total). The state removed one case from Lincoln County, dropping its total to 56 cases.
Health and Welfare reported there were 2,025 “probable cases” of the coronavirus (37 new). The state also said 12,606 people were presumed to have recovered from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. There have been 27,714 confirmed cases reported in Idaho since the start of the pandemic.
Note: The Idaho Statesman determined Saturday’s total number of new confirmed cases by comparing the numbers posted Friday by the state’s seven health districts with the figures updated Saturday on the Health and Welfare website.
DAILY DETAILS
Overall hospitalizations: Health and Welfare reports that there have been 1,246 hospitalizations because of the coronavirus, 346 admissions to the ICU and 1,807 health care workers who have been infected. 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. 21, the hospital was reporting a 14-day coronavirus testing positivity rate of 8%, with 46 patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 out of 441 patients overall.
Saint Alphonsus Health System: As of Aug. 21, the hospital was reporting a 14-day coronavirus positivity testing rate of 17.9%, with 48 patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 out of 339 patients overall.
Testing totals: At the end of the day Saturday, Health and Welfare reported that 235,255 tests had been completed statewide. About 11.8% of those have been positive for COVID-19.
Counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases: Ada 9,913, Adams 23, Bannock 556, Bear Lake 35, Benewah 85, Bingham 388, Blaine 576, Boise 45, Bonner 191, Bonneville 1,262, Boundary 42, Butte 4, Camas 2, Canyon 6,388, Caribou 34, Cassia 518, Clark 13, Clearwater 19, Custer 18, Elmore 221, Franklin 48, Fremont 85, Gem 184, Gooding 172, Idaho 39, Jefferson 260, Jerome 499, Kootenai 2,047, Latah 168, Lemhi 50, Lewis 6, Lincoln 56, Madison 172, Minidoka 488, Nez Perce 211, Oneida 15, Owyhee 264, Payette 494, Power 98, Shoshone 181, Teton 101, Twin Falls 1,428, Valley 75 and Washington 240.
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 22, 2020 at 7:18 PM.
