Coronavirus: C of I reports high enrollment despite COVID-19; state reports 16 deaths
The College of Idaho marked its third-highest overall enrollment this fall, despite the uncertainty brought by the coronavirus.
The Caldwell-based college enrolled 311 new students for the fall semester, the fourth consecutive year with a class above 300, according to a news release from C of I.
“Given the uncertainty during these past several months, we are extremely pleased with the results of our recruitment efforts this year,” said Vice President of Enrollment Management Brian Bava in the news release.
In total, the college has 1,114 undergraduate students enrolled for the fall semester. This is the ninth-largest enrollment in the college’s history. The largest was in 2014-15 when 1,144 students enrolled.
The college started classes Aug. 19 with the option to live on or off campus, along with all classes being offered online as part of a phased reopening plan.
New COVID-19 cases found in Idaho schools
Six new schools around the Treasure Valley reported new coronavirus cases within their buildings. The Idaho Statesman learned of the cases through public records requests.
In the Weiser School District, 11 confirmed and probable cases were found in five students and six staff members.
The Melba School District reported one student tested positive for COVID-19, leading 11 other students to quarantine due to possible exposure, according to Superintendent Sherry Ann Adams. She did not reveal the school the students attend.
According to the Basin School District’s Facebook page, one Idaho City High School volleyball player tested positive for the coronavirus. District Superintendent Brian Hunicke wrote that the whole volleyball team is now under a 14-day quarantine.
Idaho reports the most single-day coronavirus deaths — 16
Idaho broke an unfortunate record on Wednesday — it reported the most coronavirus-related deaths in a single day.
In total, 16 new deaths were reported Wednesday, bringing the state’s death total to 406 since the pandemic began. The previous single-day high was 13, which has been reported three times: July 31, Aug. 25 and Aug. 28.
Of Wednesday’s deaths, seven were reported in Ada County, bringing the county’s death total to 138. Canyon (88 total) and Minidoka (6) counties reported three and two deaths, respectfully. Single deaths were reported in Bonneville (13 total), Cassia (5), Fremont (3) and Shoshone (17) counties.
According to demographics from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, all the deaths were involving people over the age of 60, including 12 who were age 80 or older.
In addition to the deaths, Idaho’s local health districts added 179 new confirmed coronavirus cases to the state’s totals. The state now has 31,988 confirmed cases of the virus since the pandemic began.
Canyon County added 42 new cases to its total, which is now 7,151 confirmed cases. Second was Ada County, which reported 23 new COVID-19 cases and grew its total to 10,890.
Other counties reporting double-digit cases Wednesday was Kootenai (16 new), Bonneville (15), Bingham (12) and Madison (11).
IDHW reported 84 new “probable” cases around the state, bringing that total to 2,622. Of those with the virus, IDHW says 17,304 people are presumed to be recovered.
As of Wednesday, 269,542 coronavirus tests have been completed in Idaho, with around 11.9% of those tests coming back positive.
Coronavirus cases have been reported in all of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 10,890, Adams 25, Bannock 790, Bear Lake 42, Benewah 123, Bingham 660, Blaine 590, Boise 50, Bonner 227, Bonneville 1,663, Boundary 45, Butte 28, Camas 3, Canyon 7,151, Caribou 49, Cassia 539, Clark 19, Clearwater 25, Custer 35, Elmore 248, Franklin 63, Fremont 114, Gem 218, Gooding 210, Idaho 49, Jefferson 327, Jerome 579, Kootenai 2,282, Latah 257, Lemhi 53, Lewis 9, Lincoln 61, Madison 247, Minidoka 536, Nez Perce 324, Oneida 19, Owyhee 286, Payette 660, Power 168, Shoshone 204, Teton 118, Twin Falls 1,632, Valley 80, Washington 290.
Community spread has been found in all Idaho counties except Adams, Butte, Camas and Franklin.
