Coronavirus In Idaho: Resources & News From Nov. 29 - Dec. 31

Boise State Public Radio is here to keep you current on the news surrounding COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. This blog contains information from November 29 - December 31 on closures, openings, cancellations & news regarding the coronavirus in Idaho.

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December 30 - 6 p.m.

Idaho health officials Wednesday identified 1,340 new COVID-19 cases, 1,017 of which were confirmed by lab testing. Ten more people have died, bringing the death toll beyond another milestone to 1,403.

Of Wednesday's fatalities, two each were in Ada, Canyon and Bonneville counties. Bannock, Fremont, Madison and Payette counties had one new death each.

About 40% of the days’ new confirmed cases were in Ada (296) and Canyon (109) Counties.

New hospitalization data from December 28 show a slight increase to 375 people hospitalized, from 345 December 24. The number of COVID-19 patients receiving ICU care fell to 85 Monday, fewest since November 16.

Idaho has administered 13,686 vaccine doses according to Health and Welfare, but that number can be several days behind. The state has received 56,225 doses of vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. Doses were distributed first to hospitals and medical workers December 14. The state said 15,600 doses had been provided to Walgreens and CVS pharmacies for administration in long-term care facilities, a process which began Monday, December 28. Health officials expect an additional 1,950 vaccine doses to arrive December 31.

December 28 - 5:10 p.m.

Idaho added 566 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 the Monday following the long holiday weekend, during which reported data decreased. An additional 229 cases were listed as probable. The statewide total of confirmed cases is now 113,735.

State officials reported 23 new coronavirus-related fatalities Monday, a sharp increase from the only five reported since Christmas Day. Kootenai County reported five deaths while Bonneville, Bannock and Ada Counties each reported three. Two deaths were recorded in Canyon County and one each in Gem, Jefferson, Lincoln, Madison, Shoshone, Payette and Nez Perce Counties.

The most recent data available for both hospitalizations and ICU admissions over the holiday weekend show a continuing decrease in both statistics.

As of Monday, 10,459 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered, according to the dashboard on the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare website. State health officials say that data can lag the actual number of vaccinations administered by as many as four days.

December 28 - 7:05 a.m.

Starting today, employees from two major pharmacy chains will fan out across Idaho to vaccinate long-term care residents and staff. Read the full story here.

December 23 - 5:45 p.m.

Idaho added 1,110 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, and an additional 281 probable cases. Idaho’s positive test rate is around 16.5% according to the latest state data. That’s down from 20% at the start of the month.

The state reported eleven deaths: four in Canyon County, two each in Ada and Bonneville Counties, and one each in Gem, Jerome and Nez Perce Counties. So far, 1,324 Idahoans have died from COVID-19.

The first doses of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine arrived in Idaho on Wednesday. The latest data shows 6,538 Idahoans have been vaccinated as the national number of vaccinations surpassed 1 million. According to infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, 75% to 80% of the population will likely need to be vaccinated before “herd immunity” becomes possible.

December 22 - 5:30 p.m.

After three days of the state reporting fewer than 1,000 daily confirmed cases of COVID-19, Idaho reported 1,249 new confirmed cases on Tuesday, with another 468 probable cases, for a total of 1,717 new cases. 
 
Twelve new deaths were reported statewide: five in Canyon County, four in Ada County, two in Bingham County and one each in Bonneville, Madison and Oneida counties. Bannock and Caribou counties each removed one death each from its death toll. 
 
Ada County remains as the county with the highest number of cases for the week ending on Dec. 26. Kootenai, Canyon, Bonneville and Bannock counties are also hotspots in the state. 
 
So far, 5,665 Idahoans have received a vaccination against the virus.  

December 21 - 5:20 p.m.

Idaho added 678 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 Monday, making it the third day in a row with fewer than 1,000 new cases. An additional 239 cases were listed as probable. The statewide total of confirmed cases is now 109,102.

After a brief dip in deaths over the weekend, Idaho added 21 deaths to its total Monday, bringing it to 1,301. Ada County reported five,both Bannock and Bonnville Counties reported three deaths and two deaths each were reported in Bingham and Kootenai Counties. The counties of Canyon, Twin Falls, Fremont, Clearwater, Nez Perce and Valley each reported one death.

Despite this growing death toll, both hospitalizations and ICU admissions decreased according to the most recent data made available by the state Saturday.

As Idaho awaits its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna, the state total of vaccine doses administered is 4,348 as of Monday. State health officials say that data can lag the actual number of vaccinations administered by as many as four days.

December 19 - 7 p.m.

The Department of Idaho Health and Welfare posted 851 new COVID-19 cases Saturday, 822 of which were confirmed by lab testing. Saturday was the first non-Sunday or Holiday since November 2 with fewer than 1,000 new cases. The death toll remained at 1,275 people Saturday, with one additional death reported in Canyon County and one death removed from Bonneville County's total. Eastern Idaho District Health did not specify why the fatality was changed.

Idaho's vaccination count more than doubled from it's previous update (Thursday), from 944 to 2,306. State health officials say that data can lag the actual number of vaccinations administered by as many as four days.

While Idaho received far fewer doses of the Pfizer vaccine than originally promised, the state is in line to get 28,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine, authorized for emergency use by the FDA late Friday. Both authorized vaccines use mRNA technology to protect against the virus, but Moderna's can be stored slightly warmer than Pfizer's making it potentially a better fit for rural areas.

More than one-third of Saturdays total cases statewide were identified in Ada County.

December 18 - 5:30 p.m.

Idaho added 1,069 lab-confirmed coronavirus cases and another 271 probable cases on Friday. New case numbers are continuing to decrease somewhat, but remain higher than at any point since before mid-November.

Canyon and Ada counties were the two biggest hotspots this week, both tallying more than 1,000 new cases each.

The state reported 18 deaths on Friday. Four people died in both Ada and Bonneville counties, two people died in Bingham county, and one person died in each of Bannock, Bonner, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Jefferson, Oneida, and Payette counties.

Cassia and Twin Falls counties removed one death each from yesterday’s numbers.

Idaho’s long-term care facilities reported 28 coronavirus-related deaths and 478 new cases over the past week.

Healthcare professionals around Idaho administered 944 vaccine doses this week, according to the latest data. Yesterday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced that the state will receive about half as many Pfizer vaccine doses as expected for next week.

Dec. 17 - 5:45 p.m.

Idaho counted another 28 deaths due to COVID-19 Thursday; case rates have begun to drop slightly.

Ada County recorded 11 deaths; seven people died in Canyon County; Gooding County reported two deaths; and one person died in each of Bannock, Bingham, Bonneville, Boundary, Gem, Minidoka, Twin Falls and Valley counties.

Since mid-March, 1,259 people have died in Idaho due to the coronavirus.

The state added 1,145 confirmed cases Thursday and another 281 probable cases, for a total of 1,426. Idaho has recorded 105,898 confirmed coronavirus cases during the pandemic.

Hospitalizations are still near all-time capacity limits. As of Dec. 14, the latest data available, 470 people were hospitalized for COVID-19 — 109 of them in the ICU.

Fewer people are being tested. Last week, 33,212 PCR tests were analyzed, with a 16.5% positivity rate statewide. That’s down from an all-time high two weeks ago of nearly 20%.

Dec. 16 - 5:11 p.m. 

According to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s new vaccine tracker, 119 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been administered by Wednesday morning. 

Still, COVID-19 deaths continue to climb. Seventeen more deaths were recorded on Wednesday, and 1,231 Idahoans have died due to COVID-19 since March. 

State health officials added 1,013 confirmed cases and 420 more probable cases on Wednesday for a total of 1,433 daily cases. There have now been 104,753 confirmed and 20,699 probable cases over the course of the pandemic. 

Canyon, Kootenai and Ada counties have had the highest case counts in the past week.  

Dec. 15 - 5:37 p.m.

Idaho added another 20 deaths to its COVID-19 toll Tuesday as confirmed and probable case counts hover near 2,000.

State health officials confirmed 1,400 coronavirus cases, with another 402 listed as probable for a combined 1,802 cases. Since March 13, Idaho has recorded 103,740 confirmed cases and 1,214 deaths.

Six people died in Bonneville County, four in Ada County, three in Canyon County, two in Bannock and Jefferson counties and one each in Custer, Lemhi and Twin Falls counties.

State officials added a new vaccine counter Tuesday as they prepare to rollout a massive vaccination campaign. Thirty-eight doses have been administered so far.

Hospitalization levels remain near their all-time highs.

As of Dec. 11, the most recent data available, 444 people with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 were hospitalized statewide — 101 patients confirmed to have COVID-19 were in the ICU.

December 14 - 5:30 p.m.

As the national death rate surpassed 300,000 since the start of the pandemic, Idaho reported another 19 deaths on Monday. The state has had a total 1,194 residents die of the virus this year. Ada County reported six new deaths, Kootenai County reported two and Bannock, Bingham, Blaine, Bonner, Canyon, Clearwater, Elmore, Franklin, Lewis, Nez Perce and Twin Falls counties each reported one new death. 

The state reported 863 new lab-confirmed cases with another 175 probable cases for a combined total of 1,038. Since reaching a record of 1,901 confirmed cases on Dec. 9th, the state has reported fewer than 1,500 confirmed cases for the last five days. 

December 12 - 6 p.m.
State health officials posted 1,122 new COVID-19 infections Saturday, 884 of which were confirmed by lab testing. Forty-two percent of new confirmed cases Saturday were in Ada County, along with 11 of the day's 17 posted fatalities. Four other fatalities were attributed to Canyon County. 
Since March, 1,169 people have died of COVID-19, and 100,966 cases have been confirmed by lab testing. In December alone, officials have confirmed 14,695 cases.

December 11 - 6 p.m.

Idaho reported 1,197 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the state’s confirmed case count to 100,082 since the pandemic began. An additional 385 cases were probable.

Sixteen new coronavirus-related deaths were reported statewide. Bingham and Canyon Counties reported two deaths each. Ada, Bannock, Bonner, Bonneville, Fremont, Gem, Idaho, Jefferson, Kootenai, Owyhee, Payette, and Twin Falls Counties reported one death each.

Kootenai County has reported the most new cases this week: 1,137 so far. This week also saw four new outbreaks and 605 new cases in the state’s long-term care facilities.

Idaho healthcare providers should receive the first shipments of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine in the coming days as it awaits FDA emergency use authorization.

Dec. 10 - 6:20 p.m.

Idaho added 1,435 confirmed and 390 probable cases on Thursday for a daily total of 1,825 cases. There have been 98,885 confirmed and 19,143 probable cases over the course of the pandemic.

On Thursday, there were also 33 deaths added to the state on due to COVID-19, and the death count is now 1,136.

The test positivity rate in Idaho continues to climb. During the week ending on Dec. 5, 20% of the COVID-19 tests administered came back positive. Eastern Idaho Public Health District had the highest positivity rate in the state with 24.4% of tests coming back positive.

December 10 - 1:45 p.m.

During a tense and emotional press conference Thursday, Gov. Brad Little laid out in grim detail the direction Idaho is heading as hospitals near their limits, though he took no additional action to curb the spread of COVID-19. Read the full story here.

December 9 - 5:20 p.m.

Idaho set a daily record for new COVID-19 cases for the second day in a row Wednesday, with 1,907 confirmed cases. There were another 391 probable cases for a total of 2,298, also a record.

There were also another 29 COVID-19-related deaths reported, including nine in Kootenai County, six in Bonneville County, three in Canyon County and the first two deaths of the pandemic in Clearwater County. There were two more in Minidoka County and one each in Ada, Bannock, Benewah, Boundary, Idaho, Owyhee and Washington counties. That brings Idaho's total COVID-19 deaths since mid-march to 1,103.

Idaho's cases have been skyrocketing recently and the numbers come a day after Central District Health scrapped a meeting over anti-mask protests that targeted board members' houses and led to arrests.

Despite the spiraling infection and death rates, Gov. Brad Little has resisted a statewide mask mandate, which has been proven to slow the spread of the infection.

December 9 - 7:25 a.m.

The first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine could arrive in Idaho as early as Tuesday. But it could be months before inoculations are widely available. Read the full story here.

December 8 - 7:15 p.m.

The Central District Health board was set to consider a new health order Tuesday evening, but the board adjourned the meeting after only fifteen minutes, following a request from the Boise mayor and police chief. Read the full story here.

December 8 - 6 p.m.

Idaho reported 2,012 COVID-19 total cases on Tuesday, the state’s new daily record. Of those, 1,587 have been lab-confirmed, another new record. Another 425 cases were probable; there have been 95,573 confirmed cases since March.

The state also reported 19 new coronavirus-related deaths. Canyon and Gooding counties both reported three deaths, Bannock, Blaine, and Twin Falls Counties reported two each, and Caribou, Cassia, Gem, Kootenai, Madison, Nez Perce and Owyhee reported one death each.

The biggest hotspots are Kootenai, Canyon, Ada, and Bonneville Counties in that order. Each has reported over 300 new cases so far this week.

December 8 - 8:15 a.m.

Thanksgiving Day highway and interstate traffic volumes were down considerably compared to 2019 in southwest, south central and northern Idaho, according to Idaho Transportation Department data. Read the full story.

December 8 - 6:44 a.m.

There is growing curiosity and even some anxiety surrounding the much-anticipated vaccines for COVID-19. While the nation anxiously awaits the FDA's review of the Pfizer and Moderna-based vaccines, hundreds of more trials are continuing on the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine, and one of those trials is being conducted in the Treasure Valley.

The Mountain West News Bureau's Madelyn Beck agreed to be a subject in that trial; and following her first injection, she visited with Morning Edition host George Prentice to talk about the experience in the "double-blind" trial, some after-the-injection symptoms she encountered, and what she can expect, procedurally, in the weeks and months to come. Read the full story here.

December 7 - 5:20 p.m.

Following the deadliest week of the pandemic in Idaho, state officials reported 942 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 Monday. The statewide total of confirmed cases is now 93,956. An additional 441 cases were listed as probable.

Twenty deaths have been added to Idaho’s death toll, which now stands at 1,055. Ada County reported seven deaths, Bonneville County reported five and Kootenai County reported three. Bonner, Nez Perce, Payette, Fremont and Bannock counties each reported one death each.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 dropped to 360 on Dec. 5, the most recent data available from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. That is down from 455 hospitalizations reported on Dec. 4. The data shows a similar drop in ICU admissions. As of Dec. 5, 89 patients were reported hospitalized in the ICU due to COVID-19. That number on Dec. 4 was 103.

Despite these dips, both hospitalizations and ICU admissions remain at levels higher than the state has reported in any other month since the pandemic started in Idaho in March.

December 5 - 8 p.m.

New cases of COVID-19 in Idaho fell Saturday, at least compared to the record high set Friday. State Health officials posted 1,339 new total cases, of which 1,117 were new lab-confirmed cases. Based on county totals, no new fatalities were reported, but one previous death was moved between Bonneville and Madison counties. Since March, 1,032 people have died.

In the last seven days, the state reports 112 people have died. Even with zero new deaths reported today, it's the highest Sunday-Saturday total of the pandemic.

Canyon County identified 1,201 cases this week according to state data, the most in the state. Ada County was next, with 1,078 new cases. Kootenai County was the only other county with more than one thousand new cases this week.

Since March, 109,705 total cases have been identified by state officials. Of that total, 92,360 cases were confirmed by lab testing and 17,345 cases were probable cases.

December 5 - 5:30 p.m.

After previously planning to forge ahead but without large events, officials at the McCall Chamber of Commerce have canceled the 2021 McCall Winter Carnival. The 2022 McCall Winter Carnival is scheduled for January 28-February 6, 2022.

The Chamber released a statement on its website:

Due to increasing COVID-19 case counts and positivity rates, diminished hospital capacity, and tighter restrictions on public and private gatherings, the McCall Area Chamber of Commerce has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 McCall Winter Carnival.

While we will not be hosting Winter Carnival this year, we will be working to share safe ways visitors can enjoy the McCall area for the entirety of the winter season. Our hope is that we can still celebrate the “Winter Wanderlust” in all of us over the many months of winter. Look for tips and ideas on ways to experience winter fun outdoors, support our local businesses, AND stay safe and healthy.

We appreciate the patience, fortitude, flexibility and understanding you have all shown during this unprecedented time. While we are disappointed to not be able to host Winter Carnival, the health and safety of our residents and visitors is our top priority. Here’s looking toward a new year and brighter days to come.

December 4 - 6 p.m.

Idaho added 1,504 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday—breaking the record for the most daily cases for the seventh time in the last 30 days. There were 407 more probable cases, for a record total of 1,911 confirmed and probable cases on Friday. The total number of confirmed and probable cases since March is 108,366.

The state also reported 18 new coronavirus-related deaths. Ada County reported 10 deaths, Canyon County reported four, Bannock County reported two, and Bonner and Owyhee Counties reported one death each. 1,032 Idahoans have lost their lives to COVID-19 so far.

There have been 11 new outbreaks, 62 deaths, and 655 new cases in Idaho’s long-term care facilities over the past week. So far there have been 458 COVID-19-related deaths across 124 facilities.

Dec. 3 - 5:30 p.m.

Idaho added 1,314 lab-confirmed coronavirus cases, and 407 more probable cases, on Thursday. That brings the statewide total of confirmed cases to 89,739 and probable cases to 16,716.

The state also passed the grim milestone of more than 1,000 deaths due to COVID-19 on Thursday. Twenty-three more deaths were recorded, bringing the total to 1,014.

The latest testing numbers show a marked decrease in the total number of COVID-19 tests administered the week of Thanksgiving. There were 45,000 PCR tests administered the week ending on Nov. 21 and 29,000 the week ending on Nov. 28. The number hasn’t been that low in six weeks.

December 3 - 7:30 a.m.

Some anti-mask protestors who showed up at multiple downtown businesses this past weekend will get trespassing citations from the Boise Police Department.

Groups of protesters last Saturday visited several downtown Boise businesses and threatened legal action against owners following local city and health department orders to wear masks. Read the entire story here.

December 2 - 6:15 p.m.

Idaho has 1,006 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19, with another 423 probable cases. The total number of confirmed cases since March hit 88,425 on Wednesday.

The state is reporting 31 deaths: five in Ada County, four in Canyon and Owyhee counties, three in Bonneville County, Idaho, Kootenai and Twin Falls counties, two in Bonner County, one each in Bingham, Lemhi, Nez Perce and Shoshone counties.

Canyon, Ada, Kootenai, Bonneville and Bannock counties are hotspots with the highest number of cases reported.

Correction: This post originally reported a death in Lewis County, which was incorrect. The information has been updated.

December 2 - 7:45 a.m.

In April, Governor Brad Little authorized a 16-member coronavirus financial advisory committee to oversee $1.25 billion in federal pandemic aid provided to Idaho through the CARES Act.

The relief funds arrived with two major stipulations: They had to be used for pandemic-related expenses and the money was required to be spent — not just allocated — by December 30, 2020. Read the full story here.

December 2 - 7:00 a.m.

By the end of the year, more people in Idaho will have access to broadband, thanks to the state’s nearly $50 million investment during the pandemic.

Idaho funded 102 projects using CARES Act dollars, which will connect roughly 40,000 Idaho households to broadband, many in communities as small as 3,000 people. Read the entire story here.

December 1 - 5:35 p.m.

Another 31 people are dead in Idaho due to the coronavirus as the state is also experiencing its highest levels of hospitalizations and ICU usage during the pandemic.

State health officials reported the new deaths, as well as another 1,148 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Since mid-March, 960 people have died from complications due to the virus and Idaho has tallied 87,419 confirmed cases. Officials have listed another 15,886 cases as probable during this time.

The deaths reported Tuesday span the state.

Ada and Twin Falls counties both reported four deaths. Three people died in each of Bannock, Idaho, Kootenai and Nez Perce counties. Bingham, Bonneville, and Jerome counties reported two deaths each. One person died in each of Boundary, Elmore, Franklin, Gooding and Washington counties.

As of Nov. 28, the latest data available, 110 people are hospitalized in the ICU with COVID-19 — a state record. Overall, 446 people were hospitalized due to a confirmed or suspected coronavirus infection in Idaho.

December 1 - 4:15 p.m.

A move to partially defund Panhandle District Health by a Bonner County Commissioner fell flat Tuesday morning.

Commissioner Steven Bradshaw floated the resolution last week, which would’ve withheld future payments and clawed back money already given to Panhandle District Health, over its recent five-county mask mandate. But legal counsel for the commission diverted the resolution to a desk drawer. Read the full story here.

November 30 - 5:20 p.m.

Following the long holiday weekend, Idaho health officials reported 840 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 Monday, bringing the statewide total to 86,271. An additional 374 cases were listed as probable.

Idaho reported nine coronavirus-related fatalities Monday — four in Kootenai County and one each in Bonner, Payette, Ada, Bonneville and Bannock Counties. A total of 929 Idahoans have died from COVID-19 since mid-March.

The most recent data available for ICU admissions show a record-high of 110 patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit on Saturday, Nov. 28. On the same day, an alarmingly-high 446 patients were reported hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. More current information is not available at this time.

November 30 - 7:00 a.m.

Bogus Basin opened all 10 of its lifts this past weekend, the start of what’s sure to be a very different ski season. Conditions on the mountain will be unusual this year and it has nothing to do with snow. Read the entire story here.

News & Updates:

• The Idaho Official Resources for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Updates
• World Health Organization Coronavirus Updates
• NPR Coronavirus Coverage

Resources:

• Coronavirus FAQ: Your Questions, Answered
• When And How To Wash Your Hands
• CDC U.S.Map
• Johns Hopkins World Map
• Idaho Governor Brad Little's Facebook
• Idaho Governor Brad Little's COVID-19 Twitter