Idaho matches single-day record with 13 new deaths from the coronavirus
Idaho announced 13 new deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday, matching the single-day record set July 31.
The deaths were spread across six health districts and seven counties and increased the state’s total to 328 deaths. The case fatality rate is about 1.07%.
The latest deaths were reported in Canyon (5 new, 70 total), Ada (2 new, 113 total), Cassia (2 new, 3 total), Bingham (1 new, 5 total), Bonneville (1 new, 8 total), Kootenai (1 new, 27 total) and Twin Falls (1 new, 34 total) counties.
While Idaho has reported 135 deaths in August after cases peaked in July, a slowdown could be on the horizon. Idaho’s 14-day moving average of new cases dropped for the 11th day in a row Tuesday.
The state’s seven health districts reported a combined 334 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus, lowering the 14-day average to 349.8 cases per day. The average peaked at 521.5 cases on July 22.
Some of Idaho’s top health care leaders spoke to local media in a conference call Tuesday about the recent decrease in cases statewide. They stressed vigilance as schools and universities begin in-person classes this fall.
“Don’t look at our recent trends in numbers and conclude that we are winning,” said Dr. Jim Souza, St. Luke’s Chief Medical Officer. “Look at the recent trends in numbers and conclude that it’s working, and therefore we need to continue to press.”
For the first time since June 30, Ada County’s 14-day moving average dipped below 100 cases per day. Central District Health reported 67 new confirmed cases in Ada County (10,088 total), putting the county’s 14-day average at 95.1 cases per day.
Canyon Canyon reported 65 new cases (6,537 total), while Kootenai (32 new, 2,090 total), Latah (23 new, 206 total), Nez Perce (17 new, 239 total), Bonneville (13 new, 1,305 total), Minidoka (12 new, 503 total), Benewah (11 new, 101 total) and Jefferson (10 new, 276 total) also saw double-figure increases.
The other counties adding new cases Tuesday were Bannock (9 new, 575 total), Bingham (7 new, 403 total), Blaine (1 new, 578 total), Boise (2 new, 46 total), Bonner (8 new, 204 total), Cassia (3 new, 517 total), Clark (2 new, 15 total), Elmore (3 new, 223 total), Fremont (1 new, 90 total), Gooding (6 new, 181 total), Jerome (5 new, 512 total), Lemhi (1 new, 50 total), Lewis (1 new, 8 total), Lincoln (1 new, 57 total), Idaho (1 new, 39 total), Madison (4 new, 180 total), Oneida (2 new, 17 total), Payette (9 new, 512 total), Power (4 new, 107 total), Shoshone (7 new, 190 total), Twin Falls (6 new, 1,448 total), and Washington (1 new, 243 total).
Since the start of the pandemic, 28,398 Idaho residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Officials report 13,353 people have recovered from the disease. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare also reported 62 new “probable” cases, bringing the state total to 2,143.
The state’s hospitalizations have dropped from a high of 242 on Aug. 3 to 183 on Friday.
“Thanks to great efforts in the community, increased vigilance and adhering to the three Ws — wearing a mask, watching your distance and washing hands — St. Luke’s has seen an approximate 50% reduction in our hospitalizations since mid-July, so the efforts are paying off,” said Chris Roth, St. Luke’s Health System President and CEO.
DAILY DETAILS
Overall hospitalizations: Health and Welfare reports that there have been 1,285 hospitalizations because of the coronavirus, 359 admissions to the ICU and 1,858 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. 24, the hospital was reporting a 14-day coronavirus testing positivity rate of 7%, with 39 patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 out of 433 patients overall.
Saint Alphonsus Health System: As of Aug. 24, the hospital was reporting a 14-day coronavirus positivity testing rate of 17.1%, with 48 patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 out of 329 patients overall.
Testing totals: At the end of the day Tuesday, Health and Welfare reported that 242,719 tests had been completed statewide. About 11.7% of those have been positive for COVID-19.
Counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases: Ada 10,088, Adams 24, Bannock 575, Bear Lake 37, Benewah 101, Bingham 403, Blaine 578, Boise 46, Bonner 204, Bonneville 1,305, Boundary 42, Butte 4, Camas 2, Canyon 6,537, Caribou 33, Cassia 520, Clark 15, Clearwater 20, Custer 17, Elmore 223, Franklin 49, Fremont 90, Gem 184, Gooding 181, Idaho 39, Jefferson 276, Jerome 512, Kootenai 2,090, Latah 206, Lemhi 50, Lewis 8, Lincoln 57, Madison 180, Minidoka 503, Nez Perce 239, Oneida 17, Owyhee 264, Payette 512, Power 107, Shoshone 190, Teton 104, Twin Falls 1,448, Valley 75 and Washington 243.
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.
