Idaho records its youngest-yet death related to COVID-19, adds second-most cases in a day
Tuesday was a grim day for the coronavirus pandemic in Idaho, as the state counted 564 new confirmed cases and saw its youngest COVID-19 fatality in the seven months the virus has been spreading in the Gem State.
A Twin Falls County man in his 20s died because of a COVID-19-related illness, according to the South Central Public Health District, which said the man had an underlying condition that put him at high risk for a severe case.
“This is a terrible reminder that even our young people are not immune to complications from this disease,” said Tanis Maxwell, SCPHD epidemiologist, in a news release. “Many of our young people will bounce back, but some will be hit hard by this disease. These are the people, the vulnerable of all ages, that we are trying to protect when we encourage everyone to take daily precautions.”
Maxwell encouraged all residents to be aware that many underlying health conditions aren’t obvious to other people.
“Conditions like diabetes, heart disease or lung problems can be invisible to the public and are more common than you might imagine,” Maxwell said. “That’s why taking steps to protect everyone around us from any illness we might be carrying is such an important step in slowing the spread of this disease and saving lives.”
Twin Falls County had one other death Tuesday, and in Caribou County, a man in his 70s died of COVID-19, according to Southeastern Idaho Public Health. Eastern Idaho Public Health reported that a woman in her 70s died in Bonneville County, and Ada and Kootenai counties also reported new COVID-19 deaths.
That brings the statewide death toll to 493 people during the pandemic.
Ada County reported 78 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing its state-leading total to 12,474, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Canyon County reported 39 new confirmed cases, bringing its total to 7,950, according to Southwest District Health.
The state’s total number of cases, which has climbed quickly in the past few weeks, now stands at 40,907.
There was another indication of how alarming the day’s numbers were: The confirmed cases combined with 106 new probable cases for a total of 670 — the second-most cases in a single day for Idaho during the pandemic, behind the 681 reported on July 16.
The state’s seven-day average increased to 524.3 — the highest since July 22.
Health and Welfare has reported 4,397 probable cases of the coronavirus, and 23,288 people are presumed recovered.
The following counties in Idaho also reported new cases on Tuesday: Latah 26 (626 total), Nez Perce 9 (455 total), Idaho 5 (220 total), Clearwater 9 (76 total), Lewis 2 (40 total), Bannock 29 (1,189 total), Bear Lake 1 (51 total), Bingham 15 (997 total), Butte 4 (48 total), Caribou 2 (117 total), Franklin 5 (176 total), Oneida 1 (27 total), Power 4 (264 total), Adams -1 (27 total), Gem 2 (306 total), Owyhee 7 (314 total), Payette 12 (838 total), Washington 3 (360 total), Boise 1 (59 total), Elmore 1 (299 total), Valley 5 (95 total), Kootenai 35 (2,841 total), Bonner 1 (339 total), Twin Falls 66 (2,326 total), Minidoka 18 (728 total), Lincoln 2 (78 total), Jerome 13 (728 total), Gooding 12 (289 total), Cassia 34 (777 total), Camas 1 (31 total), Blaine 4 (673 total), Bonneville 43 (2,502 total), Clark 1 (33 total), Fremont 1 (244 total), Jefferson 7 (551 total), Lemhi 5 (96 total), Madison 59 (994 total), Teton 3 (189 total).
Emmett School District reduces quarantine time
Contrary to public health expertise on stopping the spread of the virus, the Emmett School Board of Trustees voted unanimously Monday to reduce quarantine guidelines from the recommended 14 days to just five.
The change applies only to the Emmett School District. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages a full 14-day quarantine, which is a standard in place nearly everywhere.
Emmett students who want to return to school after five days would be required to test negative for the virus and must wear a mask for an additional five days, according to a news release from the school board. Students also must agree to a temperature check in the morning and have no COVID-19-related symptoms.
Students who decline to adhere to these rules will be expected to complete the 14-day quarantine.
Superintendent Craig Woods made the recommendation Monday after reviewing internal data, which showed that 147 students and staff members were under quarantine restrictions because they had direct exposure to someone who had tested positive or was listed as a “probable.”
“The emotional drain on students and parents is simply too much for some families, and families are objecting,” Woods said. “A couple of students have been on back-to-back quarantine periods. That’s not beneficial for our students who really should be back in the classroom where we know it’s the best learning environment.”
The decision was not supported by the local health district or the state framework.
“Southwest District Health, in alignment with CDC guidance, continues to recommend that staff and students exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case are excluded for 14 days after exposure,” said Katrina Williams, a SWDH spokesperson. “Many clinics and health care providers across our jurisdiction are receiving requests from parents for a doctor’s note that will allow their children to return to school before the student has completed their designated 14-day quarantine due to an exposure to COVID-19. This is not an acceptable practice and contradicts guidance provided by the state of Idaho, CDC, and our local public health district.”
DAILY DETAILS
Overall hospitalizations: Health and Welfare reports that there have been 1,932 hospitalizations of people with COVID-19, 468 admissions to the ICU and 2,983 health care workers 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 Oct. 5, the health system was reporting 43 patients in its hospitals with confirmed COVID-19 out of 441 patients overall. The health system reported a 14-day coronavirus test positivity rate of 9%.
Saint Alphonsus Health System: As of Oct. 5, the health system was reporting 27 patients in its hospitals with confirmed COVID-19 out of 360 patients overall. The health system reported a 14-day coronavirus test positivity rate of 9.3%.
Boise School District: The district says the following schools or units have reported confirmed COVID-19 cases among students or staff since Sept. 22: Borah High School (2 cases), Boise Online school (1), Dennis Technical Education Center (1), Hawthorne Elementary (1), Hillside Junior High (2), Shadow Hills Elementary (1), Cynthia Mann Elementary (1).
Testing totals: At the end of the day Sunday, Health and Welfare reported that 321,794 people had been tested statewide. About 12.7% of those have been positive for COVID-19.
Counties with community spread: All counties except Adams have been announced to have community spread.
Counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases: Ada 12,474, Adams 27, Bannock 1,189, Bear Lake 51, Benewah 152, Bingham 997, Blaine 673, Boise 59, Bonner 339, Bonneville 2,502, Boundary 49, Butte 48, Camas 31, Canyon 7,950, Caribou 117, Cassia 777, Clark 33, Clearwater 76, Custer 64, Elmore 299, Franklin 176, Fremont 244, Gem 306, Gooding 289, Idaho 220, Jefferson 551, Jerome 728, Kootenai 2,841, Latah 626, Lemhi 96, Lewis 40, Lincoln 78, Madison 994, Minidoka 728, Nez Perce 455, Oneida 27, Owyhee 314, Payette 838, Power 264, Shoshone 215, Teton 189, Twin Falls 2,326, Valley 95, Washington 360.
This story was originally published October 6, 2020 at 7:07 PM.
