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 June 7-13 on closures, openings, cancellations & news regarding the coronavirus in Idaho.
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Idaho Confirms 38 Additional COVID-19 Cases Saturday
June 13 - 6:00 p.m.
State health officials Saturday reported 38 new coronavirus cases and no new fatalities. The total number of lab-confirmed cases is now 3,061, with 2,837 listed as recovered on the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s website. Two of Idaho’s seven health districts don’t report numbers on weekends.
Idaho Reports 39 New Confirmed COVID-19 Cases And 1 More Fatality
June 12 - 5:25 p.m.
State officials reported 39 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed by lab tests Friday. This brings the statewide total of confirmed cases to 3,023.
Five of those new cases are healthcare workers. That brings the total confirmed cases of healthcare workers to 362.
On Thursday, Central District Health reported at least 10 people that are now diagnosed or probable cases went to multiple bars in downtown Boise on June 5 and 6.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported a virus-related fatality in Jerome County. Now, the state has seen a total of 87 fatalities.
Idaho's Long-Term Care Centers Can Open To Visitors This Weekend Under New Guidelines
June 12 - 7:30 a.m.
Long-term care centers will be able to open their doors to visitors beginning on Saturday, as the state moves into Stage 4 of its reopening plan.
“We are simultaneously nervous about that, as well as excited about that,” Dave Jeppesen, the director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, said during a press conference on Thursday.
Many haven’t been able to see loved ones in long-term care centers, which include nursing homes, assisted living facilities and intermediate care facilities, since they began shutting doors to visitors in mid-March, in order to protect the high-risk populations from COVID-19.
Central District Health Reports COVID-19 Outbreak At Downtown Boise Bars
June 11 - 5:35 p.m.
Central District Health is investigating a cluster of COVID-19 among 10 people who visited multiple downtown Boise bars while infectious on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6.
Five have tested positive; five are considered probable cases. They visited Amsterdam Lounge, Cactus Bar, Humpin’ Hannah’s, Silly Birch, StrangeLove and Tom Grainey’s, all on 6th St. or Main St.
Central District Health says this investigation is still ongoing and recommends anyone who was at any of these establishments on June 5 or June 6 to monitor themselves for symptoms, including fever, cough, shortness of breath and chills.
Idaho Adds 37 COVID-19 Cases, One Death As State Moves To Stage 4
June 11 - 5:10 p.m.
Idaho added 37 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases for a total of 2,984 confirmed cases and an additional five probable cases. Today’s new cases were spread out across the state. Nine were added in Ada County, six in Bannock county and five in Kootenai county. The additional death was in Twin Falls County, which now has 26 deaths due to COVID-19. The death total in Idaho from coronavirus is 86.
Health District Warns of Possible COVID-19 Exposure At Pocatello Restaurant
June 11 - 10:30 a.m.
Southeastern Idaho Public Health announced that customers of Perkins Restaurant in Pocatello may have been exposed to COVID-19 on June 2 or June 3 because a server at the restaurant has tested positive for COVID-19.
The health district is recommending customers who visited the establishment on those days to monitor themselves for symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, sore throat or new loss of tase or smell. The health district said Perkins Restaurant has cooperated fully in the case investigation.
Idaho To Enter Final Phase Of Reopening Saturday
June 11 - 10:03 a.m.
In a press conference Thursday, Idaho Gov. Brad Little announced he is moving ahead with entering the fourth and final phase of his reopening plan, despite saying some Idahoans are not taking precautions and nearly stopped the state from moving ahead in its reopening.
"We almost did not make it to stage four this week," Little said.
Click here to read the entire story.
Boise Shutting Out Cars To Help Businesses Rebound
June 11 - 7:40 a.m.
There’s a growing concern on how scores of businesses will recover from the unprecedented economic crisis from COVID-19. Cities across the country are closing some streets to motorized traffic and Boise is trying this too to help Boise businesses spur a comeback.
Idaho Reports 33 New Confirmed COVID-19 Cases
June 10 - 5:10 p.m.
Idaho reported 33 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 Wednesday in addition seven probable cases.
That brings the total number of confirmed cases in Idaho to 2,947 with 85 deaths.
The state reported no new deaths Wednesday.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little will hold a press conference Thursday to discuss stage 4 of the state's reopening, slated to begin Friday.
After Period Without Speaking, Idaho Lt. Gov. McGeachin Joins Gov. Little For COVID-19 Town Hall
June 10 - 7:15 a.m.
Governor Brad Little said in early May that it had been weeks since he’d spoken to Lieutenant Governor Janice McGeachin. But on Tuesday, McGeachin joined Gov. Little and Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen for the first time during a weekly COVID-19 town hall.
June 9 - 5:30 p.m.
State officials reported 26 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed by lab tests Tuesday. This brings the statewide total to 2,914.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported two more virus-related fatalities Tuesday. Now, the state has seen a total of 85 fatalities, which has a rate per 100,000 population of 4.8. Twin Falls County’s 25 deaths are the highest in the state.
As of now, 58,746 tests for coronavirus have been administered in Idaho.
After Pressure From Newspaper, Idaho Releases COVID-19 Data On Nursing Homes
June 9 - 7:45 a.m.
Almost three months since the first coronavirus case was confirmed in Idaho, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has started sharing the names of long-term care facilities with COVID-19 outbreaks.
After the department rejected a public records request filed by The Idaho Statesman to access data on nursing homes and assisted living facilities, the paper threatened to sue over the state’s refusal. In response, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare on Friday released the names of facilities that have seen coronavirus outbreaks, and where there have been deaths due to COVID-19.
Idaho To Use CARES Act Funds To Pay Salaries Of Public Safety Workers
June 9 - 7:05 a.m.
Idaho received $1.25 billion from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act to curb the economic impact of COVID-19.
This week, Governor Brad Little announced that about $200 million from that fund will cover the salaries of local public safety workers.
48 Additional Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Reported Monday
June 8 - 5:17 p.m.
After not updating coronavirus case numbers or deaths Sunday, state health officials today reported an additional 48 confirmed COVID-19 cases — 30 attributed to Sunday and 18 to Monday. This brings the statewide total to 2,888. Of those cases, 2,509 are considered to be recovered.
According to information from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, there have been no COVID-19 deaths in the state since June 1. The statewide total of virus-related fatalities remains at 83, which has a rate per 100,000 population of 4.7.
Since the beginning of June, coronavirus cases among healthcare workers has spiked. As of Monday, the total was at 344 — an increase of 35 since June 1.
Work To Boost Idaho's Census Response Ensues, After Taking Backseat To The Pandemic
June 8 - 7:45 a.m.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, nonprofits had big plans to encourage Idahoans to fill out the 2020 census. Across the state, face-to-face events were scheduled to educate people about the importance of filling out the form and to help them complete it in person. But the stay-at-home order hindered many of those efforts.
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:
