Idaho adds 1,321 COVID-19 cases, 24 deaths on Thursday. Positivity rate falls slightly
A day after Idaho surpassed 3,000 COVID-19 deaths, the state added 24 more to its pandemic total on Thursday, and the coronavirus took the life of a member of the lieutenant governor’s education task force that examined supposed indoctrination in Idaho schools over the summer.
The state recorded 1,321 new cases on Thursday, according to the Department of Health and Welfare, meaning Idaho’s seven-day moving average has stayed above 1,000 for 28 consecutive days. That average would be higher, but local public health districts have yet to fully process around 7,900 positive COVID-19 lab results.
Despite the high number of cases, the state’s positivity rate fell slightly for the week beginning Sept. 26, to 14.6%. The previous week, it had been 15.2%. Public health experts consider levels greater than 5% to indicate that community spread is out of control.
On Thursday, Idaho Education News reported that a member of Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin’s education task force died of COVID-19 this month. Pete Coulson, a coach, counselor for kids and school administrator, had been hospitalized for around three weeks. The news was first reported by Bill Colley, a talk radio host on KLIX.
According to Colley, Coulson “would tell people he was vaccinated in Christ.” He was 67 years old, and Colley wrote that Coulson “was a very healthy 67.”
Coulson joined McGeachin’s task force in June, after the Idaho School Board Association’s president gave up his seat.
In a Facebook post, McGeachin wrote that she was “deeply saddened by this news. Everyone who knew Pete loved him. He will be greatly missed.”
So far this month, the state has reported 157 COVID-19 deaths. The pandemic total now stands at 3,064.
As of Monday, there were 715 patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, and 184 COVID-19 patients in an intensive care unit. Crisis standards of care remain activated statewide.
Among the 797,070 who have been reported fully vaccinated in the state, Idaho has recorded 7,940 breakthrough cases.
In total, around 52.8% of the state’s eligible population is fully vaccinated, according to state data — one of the lowest rates in the nation. Older Idahoans are more likely to be vaccinated, with 78% of those 65 or older fully vaccinated.
Among the COVID-19 cases in the state among children, 32 of them have suffered from Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome, a mysterious and severe condition that affects kids, usually several weeks after a COVID-19 infection, according to the state.
This story was originally published October 7, 2021 at 8:00 PM.
