COVID-19

BREAKING: Idaho Gov. Brad Little Announces State's First Confirmed Case Of Coronavirus

By • Mar 13, 2020
Heath Druzin / Boise State Public Radio

UPDATE: Saturday, March 14 - 1:55 p.m.

Saturday afternoon, Idaho State University students received an email from university president Kevin Satterlee that stated the woman confirmed as Idaho's first positive COVID-19 case is a student at ISU's Meridian campus.

Idaho Matters Reporter Roundtable Discusses State Coronavirus Response: March 13, 2020

By • Mar 13, 2020
Brynn Anderson / AP Images

  

UPDATE: March 13, 4:45 p.m. Since this segment aired, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced the first case of COVID-19 in Idaho. Click here to learn more. 

Between Coronavirus and the Idaho Legislature, there's lots to discuss on this week's Reporter Roundtable. Listen to hear reporter Don Day from BoiseDev, Scott McIntosh and Cynthia Sewell from the Idaho Statesman along with James Dawson and Frankie Barnhill of Boise State Public Radio to break down this week in news. 

Idaho Gov. Brad Little Declares State Of Emergency For Coronavirus

By • Mar 13, 2020
James Dawson / Boise State Public Radio

Gov. Brad Little (R) has declared a state of emergency in Idaho as the state tries to bulk up its defenses against the coronavirus and head off any kind of spike in cases as one of the few areas of the country left without a confirmed diagnosis.

Trump Declares Coronavirus Pandemic A National Emergency

By • Mar 13, 2020
AP Images

President Donald Trump on Friday declared the coronavirus pandemic a national emergency, as Washington struggles with providing Americans with relief and officials race to slow the spread of the outbreak.

Idaho Lawmakers Eye Fast Exit If Coronavirus Hits Statehouse

By • Mar 12, 2020

Gov. Brad Little and leaders in the Idaho House and Senate have made contingency plans for a hasty end to the legislative session should someone in the Statehouse get the new coronavirus. Little said Thursday that aggregating lawmakers from all 44 of Idaho's counties as well as drawing in visitors is not the best scenario. Republican House Speaker Scott Bedke said budget bills are being expedited because they need to be passed before the Legislature can adjourn. He's considering having lawmakers work on Saturday.

COVID-19 Fears Cancel Sun Valley Film Festival

By • Mar 12, 2020

After saying the show would go on yesterday, the Sun Valley Film Festival has announced it is cancelling this year’s event due to widening concerns around the Coronavirus.

Sun Valley Film Festival Says The Show Will Go On, Despite Coronavirus Concerns

By • Mar 12, 2020
Sun Valley Film Festival

UPDATE March 12, 2020 3:45p: The Sun Valley Film Festival has been cancelled since this story aired. Please see our updated story.

Idaho Senate OKs Money To Fight Coronavirus Outbreak

By • Mar 11, 2020

Idaho lawmakers are moving quickly to bolster the state's ability to fight the new coronavirus. The Senate voted 35-0 Wednesday to approve a request from Republican Gov. Brad Little for $2 million to go into an emergency fund for use around the state. Some of the money will be used by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to test for the virus. The legislation now goes to the House. Republican Sen. Steve Bair told senators that an expected $4 million in federal funds is more than a month away. No one in Idaho has tested positive for the virus so far.

Mountain West Scientists Contributing To The Race For A COVID-19 Vaccine

By • Mar 11, 2020

Teams around the world -- including at least two labs in the Mountain West -- are racing to develop a vaccine against the new coronavirus. 

A group at Colorado State University is working on ways to inactivate the virus, which is one option for developing a vaccine. 

Coronavirus Fears Postpone Boise's 2020 Treefort Music Fest

By • Mar 11, 2020
Aaron Rodriguez / Treefort Music Fest

Treefort Music Fest organizers announced this morning that the upcoming event will be postponed until September because of fears around the Coronavirus outbreak.

Boise State Students In Isolation Due To Coronavirus Worries

By • Mar 5, 2020

Boise State University says four students from South Korea participating in a school program are in self-isolation for 14 days in Boise. The school in a statement Thursday says the students cleared a health screening for the new coronavirus after arriving in Seattle on Monday. The virus causes the disease called COVID-19. School spokesman Greg Hahn says the four students are staying in an apartment in a complex owned by the university. He says they're able to take classes online.

Idaho Ramps Up Coronavirus Response As Risk Remains Low

By • Mar 5, 2020
James Dawson / Boise State Public Radio

As cases of coronavirus continue to grow in the U.S., Idaho is taking steps to try to slow its eventual migration to the state.

Idaho Testing And Monitoring For Coronavirus

By • Mar 4, 2020

There are still no confirmed cases of COVID-19 or coronavirus in Idaho, but the State Department of Health and Welfare is conducting testing and monitoring people.


Here’s How The State Of Idaho Is Preparing For COVID-19

By & • Mar 3, 2020
Brynn Anderson / AP Images

 


Last week, we spoke to the former head of St. Luke’s health system about how hospitals are preparing for COVID-19, or the coronavirus. There are no coonfirmed cases of the virus in the state yet, but state officials are preparing for that to change. 

Idaho Health Official On Coronavirus: 'We Have Regular Communications With All Our Partners'

By • Mar 3, 2020
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Public health officials from across the region are keeping a close watch on any and all new data regarding COVID-19, also known as coronavirus disease. While there are no confirmed cases of the virus in the Gem State, healthcare providers are exercising an abundance of caution and regularly comparing notes with school districts, local governments and other public entities.

Here's What A Former Idaho Health Leader Says About Coronavirus

By • Feb 27, 2020
Sajjad Safari / IIPA via AP

 

The coronavirus — officially called COVID-19 — is continuing to spread around the globe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 15 cases in the U.S., including three cases of person-to-person transmission unrelated to global travel.

For The West's Stockgrowers, Nothing's Novel About Coronaviruses

By • Feb 26, 2020

It's not uncommon for livestock to get certain strains of coronavirus. But the strains that affect cattle and other farm animals are not the ones raising fears of a global pandemic.

How Idaho's Disaster "Prepper" Culture Is Reacting To Coronavirus Fear

By & Heath Druzin • Feb 11, 2020
Heath Druzin / Boise State Public Radio

 


An outbreak of the deadly coronavirus has set off alarm bells among public health officials. It’s also kept the phone ringing off the hook for businesses that specialize in disaster preparedness.

Coronavirus Outbreak Could Impact Tourism In The Mountain West

By • Feb 5, 2020

Thousands of cases of the coronavirus have been reported worldwide, with most occurring in China. However, the outbreak is sure to have big economic impacts in the U.S.

Idaho Health Official Shares Latest Info On Flu Deaths, Coronavirus

By • Jan 22, 2020
Niki Forbin-Orr

An increasing number of Idahoans are dying of the flu this season, according to health officials. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare confirms that, as of this week, there have been 12 flu-related fatalities this season. Additionally, flu is the suspect in the deaths of three Idaho children.

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