Coronavirus: Nearly 100 new cases found at BSU; Canyon announces more voting centers
Boise State University on Friday reported nearly 100 new coronavirus cases on campus in the past week.
According to the latest update on the university’s COVID-19 tracking dashboard, 97 students, faculty and staff tested positive for the virus between Sept. 25 and Oct. 1. The bulk of the new cases consist of residential and off-campus students, with 44 and 49 cases, respectively. Four faculty and staff members were among the Friday cases.
BSU now has 349 total cases.
In addition to the new cases, Boise State reports it has filled nearly half of its isolation beds — 54 out of 115 — which are set aside for residential students who are symptomatic or awaiting coronavirus test results.
Idaho colleges have been particular areas of concern, as case counts continue to rise in counties with larger universities.
Over the past week, Latah County — home to Moscow and the University of Idaho — has reported well over 100 new cases, and reported a single-day record 63 new cases on Wednesday.
Northwest Nazarene University, located in Nampa, reported five new coronavirus cases on its campus Thursday — four employees and one resident student.
The five cases are the largest single-day increase in the university’s cases, as the previous high was just two.
The number of staff and students the university has directed to stay home is also on the rise, as 91 people have been been given that directive.
As of Friday, the university has 19 total cases reported, though eight people who tested positive are said to be recovered, according to NNU’s dashboard of cases.
Canyon County to have 21 polling places for Nov. 3 voting
After announcing a preliminary list of just five in-person voting places for the upcoming November elections, Canyon County officials Friday approved the use of 21 polling places.
According to county spokesperson Joe Decker, Canyon County commissioners approved the list of new polling places during a meeting Friday morning.
Decker said in an email that the county is sending out nearly 34,000 absentee ballots on Friday, which is just the first wave of mailings. Another round of ballots will be sent out next week, so Canyon County voters who have already requested their absentee ballot will receive it soon.
The 21 polling locations will be open on Nov. 3 for Election Day, while Canyon County will have four voting centers open for early voting starting on Oct. 19 and another open on Oct. 12. Early voting ends on Friday, Oct. 30.
In-person early voting and Election Day voting will take place at the following locations:
- O’Connor Field House – S 22nd Ave, Caldwell
- Celebration Church – 2121 Caldwell Blvd, Nampa
- Oregon Trail Church of God – 23057 Old Hwy 30, Caldwell
- Melba Valley Senior Center – 115 Base Line Rd, Melba
- Notus High School (Old Gym) – 25260 Notus Rd.
The O’Connor Field House voting center will open on Oct. 12, the rest will open on the 19th.
People voting early can do so at any of the five early voting centers — which will be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
However, for those voting in-person on Election Day, you must vote at a precinct-specific polling place. Now that the locations are finalized, Canyon County will begin mailing registered voters their precinct information on where to vote on Nov. 3.
The 21 voting locations that will open on Election Day include churches, senior centers, event centers and gymnasiums around the county.
To find your voting precinct and a full list of the 21 polling centers open on Election Day, go to www.canyonco.org/elections for more details.
To register to vote, check your ballot status or for more information, go to www.idahovotes.gov.
Gov. Little, first lady to get flu shots Saturday at Meridian event
Idaho Gov. Brad Little and first lady Teresa Little will be among those attending a drive-thru flu shot event taking place in Meridian on Saturday.
The event — hosted by Get Immunized, Idaho — will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Idaho State University - Meridian, in the campus’ rear parking lot at 1307 E. Central Drive. The event was announced earlier this week, but news of Little’s attendance was made public Friday morning.
Anyone 6 months or older can get a flu shot at the clinic; the organization says insurers will be billed when applicable.
Little’s attendance echoes his repeated urge to Idahoans to get a flu shot sooner rather than later, as the possibility of a busy flu season could further strain health care resources already under pressure because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Over 100 new COVID-19 cases in Ada; over 360 in Idaho reported Thursday
Idaho’s positive case rate continues to rise, as 362 new confirmed and 115 “probable” cases were reported in the state on Thursday, according to local health districts.
On Thursday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported the positive test rate for Sept. 20-26 was 9.4% out of the 19,363 tests taken that week. That number is an increase from the 7.9% positive rate on cases from the previous week (Sept. 13-19) and 6.7% of tests the week prior (Sept. 6-12).
A total of four new coronavirus-related deaths were reported Thursday. Three counties — Caribou, Lewis and Teton — reported their first coronavirus deaths on Thursday, according to local health districts. A Caribou County man in his 60s and two women in their 90s — one from Lewis County and the other from Teton County — are among the most recent Idahoans to die from the virus.
Jefferson County also reported its third total death Thursday, who was said to be a man in 80s. Idaho’s coronavirus death total stood at 473 as of Thursday.
Ada County reported 112 new confirmed cases Thursday, only the second time since Aug. 23 the county’s daily case count has hit triple digits. It now has 12,067 confirmed cases overall. Canyon County reported 27 new cases on Thursday, bringing its total to 7,806.
Several counties around Idaho reported double-digit new case totals Thursday including Bannock (14 new), Bonner (11), Bonneville (27), Kootenai (27), Latah (10), Madison (21) and Twin Falls (34).
A total of 38,777 Idahoans have tested positive for the coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease. Of that number, IDHW estimates 22,371 are presumed to be recovered. The department also says the number of “probable” cases is now 3,977.
As of Thursday, 311,337 people have been tested around Idaho, with around 12.5% of those tests returning positive.
Coronavirus cases have been reported in all of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 12,067, Adams 28, Bannock 1,070, Bear Lake 48, Benewah 148, Bingham 944, Blaine 655, Boise 57, Bonner 328, Bonneville 2,335, Boundary 49, Butte 40, Camas 30, Canyon 7,806, Caribou 106, Cassia 691, Clark 30, Clearwater 48, Custer 63, Elmore 290, Franklin 135, Fremont 189, Gem 302, Gooding 261, Idaho 200, Jefferson 510, Jerome 694, Kootenai 2,741, Latah 531, Lemhi 84, Lewis 34, Lincoln 74, Madison 733, Minidoka 663, Nez Perce 430, Oneida 25, Owyhee 304, Payette 799, Power 249, Shoshone 214, Teton 171, Twin Falls 2,164, Valley 89, Washington 348.
All Idaho counties but three — Adams, Butte and Franklin — have reported community spread.
This story was originally published October 2, 2020 at 10:43 AM.
