Coronavirus: Elmore jail suit over COVID-19 argued in front of Idaho Supreme Court
Justices on the Idaho Supreme Court convened over video conferencing to hear arguments over a lawsuit brought forward by people incarcerated in the Elmore County Jail concerned with the facility’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The state’s highest court convened Friday morning just months after a petition for habeas corpus was filed by Idaho Falls attorney Nathan Olsen on behalf of nine inmates at the Elmore County Jail, alleging that the conditions in jail posed a serious risk to the health of those incarcerated. Habeas corpus is a the right of a detainee to go before a court to determine whether the detention is lawful.
Court records show the habeas corpus petition was filed April 10, naming nine jail inmates as the petitioners and Elmore County Sheriff Mike Hollinshead as a respondent.
Olsen argued during the Friday hearing that a lack of social distancing and cleaning supplies has created an unneeded risk for the petitioners he represents, saying they are all in jail for nonviolent charges or parole violations.
He said many of those in the jail are kept in tight quarters and have little to no access to things like soap, creating a hazardous environment given the outbreak. Olsen added that other jail and prison facilities in Idaho have been the sites of COVID-19 outbreaks.
In the initial petition, Olsen pushed for court hearings and potential release of those named in the court filing.
Ralph Blount, an Elmore County deputy prosecutor representing Hollinshead, argued the grievances presented in the case are broad and don’t necessarily warrant a habeas corpus petition. He also argued that the jail has protocols to keep inmates safe, such as placing new inmates in quarantine once they arrive.
He rebuffed an allegation made by Olsen, who said one of the petitioners requested a coronavirus test after showing symptoms and was denied. Olsen argued the jail has a lack of tests and county officials have downplayed the potential threat of an outbreak in the jail.
Blount pointed to a grievance filed by a jail inmate who reported someone in his jail pod who was showing COVID-19 symptoms, and the person was tested within 24 hours. Blount added the coronavirus test came back negative.
Justice Gregory Moeller asked Blount if the jail is aware of any confirmed cases within its walls, saying “I find it concerning that we don’t know if this is a hypothetical or real threat.” Blount said that if a confirmed case was found, the county and local health department would be notified.
After nearly an hour of arguments, Chief Justice Roger Burdick said the court would take the matter under advisement. The court will issue a written ruling at a later date, as it typically does, though no specific time period was stated Friday.
Idaho’s long-term care facilities put out call for staffing help
Long-term care facilities in Idaho are in need of caregivers and staff, and state officials are looking to fill needed positions in facilities created during the coronavirus outbreak.
The Idaho Health Care Association has created a website for people to fill out forms to match them with a nearby facility that needs help in their area. Idaho care facilities are in need of people in a variety of areas, including nursing, social services, administration, therapy, support services and more.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little released a video in support of the initiative, saying the COVID-19 pandemic has created staffing shortages throughout the state, and Idaho needs heroes to step up and care for the state’s most vulnerable population.
“We are so thankful for the governor’s support and for our community of health care professionals,” said Robert Vande Merwe, executive director of the Idaho Health Care Association, in a news release. “It just shows that when there’s a crisis, Idahoans answer the call.”
To fill out the form or to learn more, go to www.idaho.carefortheaging.org.
U of I study to analyze animals’ susceptibility to the coronavirus
A new study being done by three University of Idaho researchers aims to determine whether farm animals could be hosts to spread the novel pathogen SARS-CoV2, also known as the novel coronavirus.
“We already know that humans can infect cats and other animals,” said Paul Rowley, a virologist and U of I assistant professor, in a news release. “We’re interested in learning what animals are susceptible and if there’s a risk of SARS-CoV2 jumping into the bat population in North America, or domestic cattle or livestock.”
The researchers are using mammalian cell cultures and a viral agent similar to coronavirus to determine which, if any, farm animals could potentially be hosts for the pathogen and thus spread the virus.
The study is being aided by a federal grant, according to a news release from the university.
Idaho reports over 280 new COVID-19 cases Thursday
Idaho’s seven health districts reported 285 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Thursday, along with five new deaths. The Thursday total brought Idaho’s current seven-day case average to 268.3 per day, whereas it was 235.6 last week.
A pair of the state’s five deaths was reported in Nez Perce County, an area that now has 23 total COVID-19-related deaths. Single deaths were reported in Benewah, Canyon and Shoshone counties, bring each county’s totals to three, 97 and 18, respectively. Of the deaths, updated demographics from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare show one of the deceased people was in their 50s, two were in their 60s, one in their 70s and the other being age 80 or older.
Ada County added 53 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the most of any Idaho county. It now has 11,206 cases overall. Canyon County reported 34 new cases, bringing its total to 7,360. Other counties with double-digit cases include Twin Falls (37 new), Bonneville (32), Kootenai (19) and Madison (16).
In total, there have been 33,803 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Idaho. As of Thursday, 435 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported in Idaho.
Of those cases, IDHW estimates 19,691 are presumed to be recovered. IDHW added 61 new “probable” cases to its total, which is now 3,000. IDHW says 282,522 coronavirus tests have been conducted as of Thursday, with about 12% of those tests returning negative.
Coronavirus cases have been reported in all of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 11,206, Adams 25, Bannock 854, Bear Lake 41, Benewah 133, Bingham 769, Blaine 597, Boise 51, Bonner 257, Bonneville 1,902, Boundary 47, Butte 26, Camas 13, Canyon 7,360, Caribou 78, Cassia 566, Clark 24, Clearwater 28, Custer 45, Elmore 252, Franklin 77, Fremont 131, Gem 242, Gooding 220, Idaho 83, Jefferson 373, Jerome 625, Kootenai 2,395, Latah 286, Lemhi 54, Lewis 11, Lincoln 67, Madison 338, Minidoka 568, Nez Perce 359, Oneida 19, Owyhee 293, Payette 703, Power 195, Shoshone 209, Teton 125, Twin Falls 1,771, Valley 80, Washington 305.
Community spread has been found in nearly every Idaho county, with the exceptions of Adams, Butte and Franklin counties.
This story was originally published September 18, 2020 at 11:41 AM.
