This article was originally written by Rachel Roberts and Michael Lycklama in the Idaho Statesman.
Idaho announced a record 16 new coronavirus-related deaths on Wednesday, pushing the statewide total to 406 since the start of the pandemic in March.
The previous single-day high of 13 deaths was reported three times: July 31, Aug. 25 and Aug. 28.
The latest deaths from COVID-19 were in Ada (7 new, 138 total), Canyon (3 new, 88 total), Minidoka (2 new, 6 total), Bonneville (1 new, 13 total), Cassia (1 new, 5 total), Fremont (1 new, 3 total) and Shoshone (1 new, 17 total) counties. All of the deaths were individuals over the age of 60, including 12 who were 80 or older, according to updated demographics on the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s website. Idaho’s case fatality rate is about 1.17%.
The state’s seven health districts added a combined 179 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Wednesday, increasing the overall total to 31,988 cases. Idaho’s 14-day moving average sits at 266.4 cases per day, while the 7-day average dropped to 233.9. The 7-day average is now at its lowest point since June 29.
Canyon (42 new, 7,151 total), Ada (23 new, 10,890 total), Kootenai (16 new, 2,282 total), Bonneville (15 new, 1,663 total), Bingham (12 new, 660 total) and Madison (11 new, 247 total) counties each announced double-digit increases.
The other counties adding new cases Wednesday were Adams (1 new, 25 total), Bannock (9 new, 790 total), Bear Lake (2 new, 42 total), Benewah (1 new, 123 total), Blaine (1 new, 590 total), Bonner (4 new, 227 total), Caribou (2 new, 49 total), Cassia (2 new, 539 total), Clark (1 new, 19 total), Elmore (3 new, 248 total), Franklin (2 new, 63 total), Fremont (3 new, 114 total), Gooding (1 new, 210 total), Jefferson (5 new, 327 total), Jerome (2 new, 579 total), Lewis (1 new, 9 total), Lincoln (1 new, 61 total), Minidoka (1 new, 536 total), Nez Perce (2 new, 324 total), Payette (4 new, 660 total), Power (2 new, 168 total), Shoshone (1 new, 204 total), Twin Falls (7 new, 1,632 total) and Washington (4 new, 290 total).
Southwest District Health removed one case apiece from Gem (218 total) and Owyhee (286 total) counties.
There are an additional 2,622 probable cases statewide (84 new). Health and Welfare estimated Wednesday that of those infected, 17,304 people are presumed recovered.
MORE COVID CASES IN IDAHO SCHOOLS
Six more Treasure Valley schools have found coronavirus cases in their buildings, the Idaho Statesman learned through public records requests.
The Weiser School District has reported 11 confirmed and probable cases (five students, six staff) entering the week. That includes Pioneer Primary (one student, two staff), Park Intermediate (one student, three staff), Weiser Middle (two students, one staff) and Weiser High (one student).
The Weiser School District is home to approximately 1,500 students in Washington County.
The Melba School District reported that one student has tested positive for the coronavirus. That has led 11 students to quarantine because of exposure, Melba Superintendent Sherry Ann Adams told the Idaho Statesman.
Adams declined to reveal what school that student attends due to the district’s small size (nearly 900 students).
The Basin School District notified its parents that one Idaho City High School volleyball player tested positive for COVID-19, via its Facebook page. Basin Superintendent Brian Hunicke wrote that the entire volleyball team is under a 14-day quarantine. The quarantine cost the Wildcats their season opener Tuesday against Garden Valley.
The Basin School District is home to approximately 300 students in and around Idaho City.
DAILY DETAILS
Overall hospitalizations: Health and Welfare reports that there have been 1,536 hospitalizations of people with COVID-19, 406 admissions to the ICU and 2,267 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 Sept. 8, the health system was reporting 36 patients in its hospitals with confirmed COVID-19 out of 464 patients overall. The health system reported a 14-day coronavirus test positivity rate of 7%.
Saint Alphonsus Health System: As of Sept. 8, the health system was reporting 30 patients in its hospitals with confirmed COVID-19 out of 332 patients overall. The health system reported a 14-day coronavirus test positivity rate of 14.1%.
Boise School District: The district says the following schools have reported confirmed COVID-19 cases among students or staff since Aug. 17: Adams Elementary (2 cases), Boise Online School (1), Borah High (2), Hillcrest Elementary (1), Maple Grove Elementary (1), Roosevelt Elementary (1) and West Junior High (1).
Testing totals: At the end of the day Wednesday, Health and Welfare reported that 269,542 tests had been completed statewide. About 11.9% of those have been positive for COVID-19.
Counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases: Ada 10,890, Adams 25, Bannock 790, Bear Lake 42, Benewah 123, Bingham 660, Blaine 590, Boise 50, Bonner 227, Bonneville 1,663, Boundary 45, Butte 28, Camas 3, Canyon 7,151, Caribou 49, Cassia 539, Clark 19, Clearwater 25, Custer 35, Elmore 248, Franklin 63, Fremont 114, Gem 218, Gooding 210, Idaho 49, Jefferson 327, Jerome 579, Kootenai 2,282, Latah 257, Lemhi 53, Lewis 9, Lincoln 61, Madison 247, Minidoka 536, Nez Perce 324, Oneida 19, Owyhee 286, Payette 660, Power 168, Shoshone 204, Teton 118, Twin Falls 1,632, Valley 80, Washington 290.
Counties with community spread: All counties but Adams, Butte, Camas and Franklin have been announced to have community spread.
