These interactive maps show how full Idaho hospitals are as COVID-19 surge intensifies
Some of Idaho’s largest hospitals are seeing a total occupancy of over 90% and many others have single-digit intensive care unit beds available, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HSS).
As the omicron variant continues to spread throughout the state, Idaho saw 3,555 cases on Tuesday, according to data from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. That’s the largest single-day figure since the start of the pandemic, and local health officials only see things getting worse in the coming weeks if the current trend continues.
Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen said he expects the state’s health systems to return to a crisis standard of care in a matter of weeks as hospitals continue to struggle with the influx of COVID-19 cases.
The following maps were compiled by Data Herald, a data visualization company, using information from Health and Human Servicesthat is updated as of Jan. 18.
Hospitals hit hard in Boise, Nampa
The Department of Health and Welfare reported 14,375 hospitalizations and 2,441 admissions to the ICU through Jan. 18.
Although those numbers don’t sound overly staggering compared with other states, federal data reported that the state has just 136 available ICU beds. That’s about 34% of the approximately 400 beds the state has, according to the latest total figure from Gov. Brad Little.
Unvaccinated individuals are more likely to end up hospitalized from COVID-19 complications. Only 52.7% (903,550) of Idahoans 5 or older are fully vaccinated, and only 39.7% (358,302) of that group has received a booster.
Throughout the state, Saint Alphonsus medical centers in Boise and Nampa have been hit particularly hard and have total occupancy over 90% and just 21 available ICU beds between them. Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital in Coeur D’Alene has just one bed available in the hospital, and Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello has a total occupancy of 69.3%.
Here are the hospital bed occupancy percentages for hospitals in the Treasure Valley, according to Health and Human Services.
Although both Saint Alphonsus medical centers are struggling, St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Boise is currently hanging steady with a 65.1% ICU occupancy (16 available beds) and 47.1% total occupancy (371 available beds).
St. Luke’s in Nampa also has all 10 ICU beds available and West Valley Medical Center in Caldwell has six ICU beds available.
Idaho sees surge in COVID-19 cases
Idaho’s test positivity rate sits at 25.7% as of the week of Jan. 2, the most recent data available.
Idaho has had 344,412 cases since the start of the pandemic and 4,282 COVID-19-related deaths for a 1.24% case fatality rate.
Those numbers can be expected to rise as local health districts are behind on recording approximately 28,200 cases over the last two weeks. That means a person who tests positive, and whose status is reported to the state, may not be added to the tally until days later.
The state currently has a daily average of 1,878 cases and 5.5 deaths.
This story was originally published January 19, 2022 at 4:40 PM.
