Idaho’s COVID test positivity rate drops again; Health and Welfare revamps data website
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare website now shows a breakdown of the COVID-19 testing positivity rate by public health district.
The revamped dashboard debuted Thursday and shows a positivity rate of 8% on 15,462 tests statewide for the week of Aug. 23-29. Those numbers are likely to change as more tests are returned in the coming weeks. It is the fifth straight week Idaho has experienced a decrease in the positivity rate.
Eastern Idaho Public Health had the highest positivity rate for Aug. 23-29 at 14.3%, followed by Southwest District Health at 11.8% and Southeastern Idaho Public Health at 9.3%.
Central District Health, which includes Ada County, checked in at 6.5%. The lowest rate was reported in the Idaho North Central District at 4.2%. Health officials say a rate below 5% demonstrates control over the spread of the virus.
Health and Welfare also updated the metrics for the week of Aug. 16-22, increasing the positive percentage to 8.6% on 20,167 tests. IDHW originally reported 8.3% on 18,231 tests.
The state’s seven health districts reported a combined 302 new cases of the coronavirus and one new death Thursday. The latest death was a male in his 60s from Bingham County, according to a press release from Southeastern Idaho Public Health. Idaho has lost 375 residents to the virus.
Nine counties announced double-digit increases: Ada (49 new, 10,620 total), Twin Falls (38 new, 1,564 total), Bonneville (37 new, 1,563 total), Bingham (28 new, 589 total), Canyon (28 new, 6,927 total), Kootenai (17 new, 2,217 total), Bannock (16 new, 740 total), Gem (15 new, 207 total) and Payette (13 new, 629 total).
The other counties with new cases were Blaine (2 new, 589 total), Boise (1 new, 51 total), Bonner (3 new, 214 total), Butte (2 new, 27 total), Caribou (1 new, 43 total), Cassia (2 new, 533 total), Clearwater (1 new, 21 total), Custer (2 new, 34 total), Elmore (1 new, 241 total), Franklin (1 new, 56 total), Fremont (2 new, 105 total), Gooding (2 new, 206 total), Jefferson (5 new, 317 total), Jerome (9 new, 554 total), Latah (1 new, 240 total), Lincoln (5 new, 63 total), Madison (2 new, 213 total), Minidoka (3 new, 529 total), Nez Perce (4 new, 291 total), Power (3 new, 150 total), Shoshone (1 new, 196 total), Valley (1 new, 79 total) and Washington (7 new, 274 total).
Since the start of the pandemic, 30,838 Idaho residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Officials report that 15,787 people have recovered from the disease. Health and Welfare also reported one new “probable” cases, bringing the state total to 2,438.
Earlier Thursday, Gov. Brad Little declared that Idaho will stay in Stage 4 of his reopening plan for the seventh time, extending it for another two weeks. Little said the state’s progress was held up by hospital admissions.
Meanwhile, members of the Eastern Idaho Public Health board voted unanimously to pass a mandate requiring everyone in Custer County to wear face coverings to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The order is effective immediately and will be in place for a minimum of 14 days, at which time it will be re-evaluated. Those who violate the mask mandate could be charged with a misdemeanor, which carries a possible fine of up to $300 and up to six months in jail.
DAILY DETAILS
Overall hospitalizations: Health and Welfare reports that there have been 1,442 hospitalizations because of the coronavirus, 392 admissions to the ICU and 2,160 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 Sept. 2, the hospital was reporting a 14-day coronavirus testing positivity rate of 7%, with 28 patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 out of 461 patients overall.
Saint Alphonsus Health System: As of Sept. 2, the hospital was reporting a 14-day coronavirus positivity testing rate of 16.3%, with 50 patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 out of 348 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), Maple Grove Elementary (1), Roosevelt Elementary (1) and West Junior High (1).
Testing totals: At the end of the day Thursday, Health and Welfare reported that 261,289 tests had been completed statewide. About 11.8% of those have been positive for COVID-19.
Counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases: Ada 10,620, Adams 24, Bannock 740, Bear Lake 40, Benewah 119, Bingham 589, Blaine 589, Boise 51, Bonner 214, Bonneville 1,563, Boundary 44, Butte 27, Camas 3, Canyon 6,927, Caribou 43, Cassia 533, Clark 17, Clearwater 21, Custer 34, Elmore 241, Franklin 56, Fremont 105, Gem 207, Gooding 206, Idaho 43, Jefferson 317, Jerome 554, Kootenai 2,217, Latah 240, Lemhi 52, Lewis 8, Lincoln 63, Madison 213, Minidoka 529, Nez Perce 291, Oneida 19, Owyhee 277, Payette 629, Power 150, Shoshone 196, Teton 110, Twin Falls 1,564, Valley 79 and Washington 274.
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 September 3, 2020 at 7:17 PM.
