Idaho’s COVID cases under 300 for second day in a row; Vallivue schools add new case
Central Canyon Elementary in Caldwell is the fourth school in the Vallivue School District with a confirmed case of COVID-19, according to a letter from the district sent to parents on Friday.
The Idaho Statesman learned of positive cases earlier this week at Vallivue Middle School, Skyway Elementary, Lakevue Elementary and Vallivue’s district office through a public records request. The letter to parents only mentions the cases at Central Canyon and Skyway.
“Positive cases have been immediately quarantined and families with children exposed to that person within six or less feet for 15 minutes or longer have been isolated,” the letter states. “As the COVID-19 communication guide states, ‘If you are not contacted by email or phone, you are not considered to be at any significant risk and do not need heightened concern.’”
The district office had two positive cases, and the schools each had one for a total of six positive cases since Aug. 18.
Vallivue students returned for in-person classes Aug. 25 on a limited schedule. Elementary students attend classes four days a week. Middle and high school students attend classes two days a week to create room for social distancing.
There were 244 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus reported statewide on Saturday, according to a Statesman analysis of data from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Southeastern Idaho Public Health and Eastern Idaho Public Health. It marks the second straight day Idaho has added less than 300 cases and the first time in five days without a new death.
New cases were added in Ada (73 new, 10,764 total), Bannock (10 new, 760 total), Bingham (13 new, 613 total), Boise (1 new, 50 total), Bonneville (27 new, 1,604 total), Canyon (44 new, 7,027 total), Caribou (2 new, 45 total), Elmore (2 new, 243 total), Fremont (4 new, 110 total), Gem (7 new, 216 total), Idaho (1 new, 44 total), Jerome (3 new, 558 total), Kootenai (20 new, 2,243 total), Lewis (1 new, 9 total), Lincoln (1 new, 61 total), Madison (8 new, 227 total), Minidoka (1 new, 533 total), Nez Perce (1 new, 299 total), Payette (4 new, 639 total), Shoshone (4 new, 202 total), Teton (5 new, 117 total), Twin Falls (10 new, 1,585 total) and Washington (2 new, 283 total) counties.
Since the start of the pandemic, 31,324 Idaho residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Officials report that 16,339 people have recovered from the disease. Health and Welfare also reported 16 new “probable” cases, bringing the state total to 2,478.
DAILY DETAILS
Overall hospitalizations: Health and Welfare reports that there have been 1,466 hospitalizations because of the coronavirus, 394 admissions to the ICU and 2,204 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. 4, the hospital was reporting a 14-day coronavirus testing positivity rate of 7%, with 30 patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 out of 418 patients overall.
Saint Alphonsus Health System: As of Sept. 4, the hospital was reporting a 14-day coronavirus positivity testing rate of 15.2%, with 40 patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 out of 320 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 Saturday, Health and Welfare reported that 264,694 tests had been completed statewide. About 11.8% of those have been positive for COVID-19.
Counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases: Ada 10,764, Adams 24, Bannock 760, Bear Lake 40, Benewah 121, Bingham 613, Blaine 588, Boise 50, Bonner 218, Bonneville 1,604, Boundary 45, Butte 27, Camas 3, Canyon 7,027, Caribou 45, Cassia 535, Clark 17, Clearwater 21, Custer 35, Elmore 243, Franklin 58, Fremont 110, Gem 216, Gooding 207, Idaho 44, Jefferson 319, Jerome 558, Kootenai 2,243, Latah 247, Lemhi 52, Lewis 9, Lincoln 61, Madison 227, Minidoka 533, Nez Perce 299, Oneida 19, Owyhee 282, Payette 639, Power 155, Shoshone 202, Teton 117, Twin Falls 1,585, Valley 79 and Washington 283.
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 5, 2020 at 6:56 PM.
