Idaho’s COVID metrics trending downward, but ‘commitment’ to fight must remain high
Idaho’s 14-day moving average of new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 decreased Saturday for the 15th consecutive day.
The average reached its lowest point since early July at 306.4 cases per day. It was as high as 521.5 cases per day July 22 and at 371.1 just one week ago.
Meanwhile, the state’s 7-day average dropped to 293.7. It had not been below 300 cases per day since July 4.
“Although some of the metrics available on our COVID-19 dashboard are trending downward, it doesn’t change our need to continue to follow recommended precautions,” wrote Dave Jeppesen, director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, in a blog posted Friday.
“It is because you have shown your concern for your neighbors and fellow Idahoans (by following the precautions) that things are currently trending as we’d hoped. Let’s continue our commitment to vulnerable Idahoans and our local businesses and schools.”
The Idaho Statesman compared Friday’s county-by-county confirmed case totals from the state’s seven health districts with IDHW’s numbers posted Saturday. The updates show 233 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus statewide and two new deaths.
The latest deaths were in Canyon (75 total) and Shoshone (15 total) counties, but no further information was available. Idaho has lost 359 residents to the virus with a case fatality rate of about 1.13%.
Canyon County reported 76 new confirmed cases Saturday, increasing its total to 6,730 cases. Ada (43 new, 10,342 total), Bonneville (37 new, 1,445 total), Payette (15 new, 569 total) and Twin Falls (10 new, 1,498 total) also saw double-digit increases.
The other counties with additional cases were Benewah (1 new, 110 total), Blaine (3 new, 586 total), Boise (1 new, 49 total), Bonner (2 new, 206 total), Cassia (2 new, 528 total), Clark (2 new, 17 total), Custer (1 new, 27 total), Elmore (5 new, 231 total), Fremont (3 new, 100 total), Gem (2 new, 188 total), Gooding (3 new, 193 total), Idaho (1 new, 40 total), Jefferson (8 new, 290 total), Jerome (2 new, 531 total), Kootenai (5 new, 2,151 total), Lewis (1 new, 9 total), Madison (3 new, 196 total), Nez Perce (1 new, 262 total), Owyhee (3 new, 272 total), Shoshone (1 new, 194 total), Teton (2 new, 107 total) and Washington (1 new, 250 total).
The state removed one case from Minidoka County, decreasing its total to 515 cases.
Since the start of the pandemic, 29,492 Idaho residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Officials report that 14,490 people have recovered from the disease. Health and Welfare also reported seven new “probable” cases, bringing the state total to 2,303.
Note: Eastern Idaho Public Health was the only local health district to update its website on Saturday. The Statesman used numbers from EIPH to determine Saturday’s confirmed case total.
DAILY DETAILS
Overall hospitalizations: Health and Welfare reports that there have been 1,365 hospitalizations because of the coronavirus, 374 admissions to the ICU and 2,040 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. 28, the hospital was reporting a 14-day coronavirus testing positivity rate of 8%, with 34 patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 out of 391 patients overall.
Saint Alphonsus Health System: As of Aug. 28, the hospital was reporting a 14-day coronavirus positivity testing rate of 16.8%, with 58 patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 out of 342 patients overall.
Boise School District: The district says the following schools have reported confirmed COVID-19 cases among students or staff since Aug. 17: Adams Elementary (2 cases), Boise Online School (1), Borah High (2), Hillcrest Elementary (1), Roosevelt Elementary (1) and West Junior High (1).
Testing totals: At the end of the day Saturday, Health and Welfare reported that 252,022 tests had been completed statewide. About 11.7% of those have been positive for COVID-19.
Counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases: Ada 10,342, Adams 24, Bannock 620, Bear Lake 37, Benewah 110, Bingham 447, Blaine 586, Boise 49, Bonner 206, Bonneville 1,445, Boundary 43, Butte 19, Camas 3, Canyon 6,730, Caribou 40, Cassia 528, Clark 17, Clearwater 20, Custer 27, Elmore 231, Franklin 51, Fremont 100, Gem 188, Gooding 193, Idaho 40, Jefferson 290, Jerome 531, Kootenai 2,151, Latah 223, Lemhi 51, Lewis 9, Lincoln 58, Madison 196, Minidoka 515, Nez Perce 262, Oneida 18, Owyhee 272, Payette 569, Power 124, Shoshone 194, Teton 107, Twin Falls 1,498, Valley 78 and Washington 250.
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 29, 2020 at 7:13 PM.
