BOISE, Idaho — Scroll down to see the latest daily updates.
We're closely tracking Idaho's number of deaths and cases of the novel coronavirus as well as what's happening as COVID-19 continues to spread in Idaho.
We have multiple graphs and timelines looking at the coronavirus case trends in Idaho, including a graph showing a 14-day average that the State of Idaho has been tracking to determine the appropriate reopening stage.
Saturday, December 19
7:43 p.m. - Idaho adds 725 total cases and no new deaths on Sunday
The Gem State reported 696 confirmed and 29 probable cases on Saturday, raising the state's total number of cases to 129,069 and 107865 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began in March.
Idaho did not add any new deaths, the state's coronavirus-related death toll stands at 1,282
The number of vaccines administered grew to 2,306.
Friday, December 18
5:56 p.m. - Idaho adds 1,081 new confirmed cases and 14 new deaths
The Gem State reported 1,081 new confirmed and 271 new probable cases on Friday, which puts the state's total number of confirmed cases to 107,169 and 128,218 probable and confirmed cases since the pandemic hit Idaho in March.
Ada County was once again the state's top hotspot with 459 new cases reported. Canyon County reported 29 and Kootenai County reported 235 cases.
Idaho's death toll from the pandemic grew to 1,282 after 14 new deaths were reported on Friday.
The deaths occurred in the following counties:
- Ada (3)
- Bingham (1)
- Bonner (1)
- Bonneville (2)
- Canyon (2)
- Elmore (1)
- Gem (1)
- Jefferson (1)
- Oneida (1)
- Payette (1)
Thursday, December 17
5:22 p.m.- Over 1,400 new cases, 20 deaths reported Thursday; 321 doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered
The Gem State added 1,419 new cases to the running total on Thursday. 1,138 of those cases are confirmed and 281 are probable.
Ada County added 429 new cases to its total. Following not so closely is Canyon County, which added 198 new cases on Thursday. Kootenai County added 123 new cases to its total.
Since March, there have been 126,878 cases of COVID-19 reported in Idaho. Of those cases, 106,088 are confirmed.
20 new deaths were recorded on Thursday, bringing the statewide death toll to 1,268. Here's how the deaths break down county-by-county:
- Ada- 6
- Bingham- 3
- Canyon- 3
- Bonneville- 2
- Gooding- 2
- Boundary- 1
- Gem- 1
- Minidoka- 1
- Twin Falls- 1
To date, 321 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to Idaho healthcare workers.
The statewide positivity rate also decreased by over 3%, as did the number of tests conducted. As of last week, the statewide positivity rate is now 16.5%, down from 19.9% the week before.
32,212 tests were performed last week, down from 40,758 tests the week before.
An estimated 49,318 recoveries have been made.
11:50 p.m. -- Free face masks to be handed out in Eagle park on Thursday and Friday
If you happen to need a mask and live in Eagle -- here's your chance to get a free one.
The City of Eagle is giving away free boxes of disposable face masks Thursday and Friday.
The masks will be distributed at Guerber Park from noon to 3 p.m.
Be sure to bring your proof of residency for Eagle.
Wednesday, December 16
6:43 p.m. - 29 deaths, 1,462 cases reported in Idaho on Wednesday
State health officials on Wednesday reported 29 coronavirus-related deaths statewide, bringing the death toll since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,248.
Of the new deaths, eight were in Canyon County and seven were in Ada County. Here's how they break down by county:
- Ada: 7
- Bannock: 3
- Bingham: 1
- Bonneville: 3
- Canyon: 8
- Gem: 3
- Payette: 1
- Twin Falls: 2
- Valley: 1
Also on Wednesday, local health districts reported 1,042 new confirmed and 420 new probable cases, for a total of 1,462 cases.
Ada, Canyon and Kootenai counties continue to be the state's top hot spots. Of the new cases, Ada had 325, Canyon had 148 and Kootenai had 145.
Since the pandemic began in March, 104,950 Idahoans have tested positive for the virus.
The state has also released the latest hospitalization data. As of Monday, 470 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, 109 of them in the ICU.
Tuesday, December 15
5:54 p.m. - 1,706 cases, 17 deaths reported on Tuesday; state begins tracking vaccination numbers
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and local health districts on Tuesday reported 1,304 new confirmed and 402 new probable cases - for a total of 1,706 new COVID-19 cases.
Of the new cases, Ada County had the most by far with 483. Kootenai County in North Idaho had 236 while Canyon County had 176.
Also on Tuesday, 17 deaths were reported statewide, bringing the death toll since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,219.
Here's how the deaths reported on Tuesday break down by county:
- Ada: 4
- Bannock: 2
- Bonner: 1
- Bonneville: 4
- Canyon: 3
- Custer: 1
- Jefferson: 1
- Twin Falls: 1
The state has begun tracking the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered throughout Idaho. As of Tuesday, the state said 38 doses had been administered, although the number didn't change from Monday when the vaccine arrived at several hospitals and a health district.
Monday, December 14
5:58 p.m.- Over 1,200 new cases, 22 new deaths reported Monday
1,272 new cases of COVID-19 were reported on Monday. 1,097 of those cases are confirmed and 175 are probable. Ada County added the most new cases with 366. Kootenai County followed with 182 cases and Canyon County with 163 cases.
There are now 122,217 confirmed and probable cases in the Gem State. Of those cases, 102,604 are confirmed.
22 new deaths were added to the state's total. Here's how the deaths break down by county:
- Ada (6)
- Bannock (1)
- Bingham (1)
- Bonneville (2)
- Canyon (1)
- Clearwater (1)
- Elmore (1)
- Franklin (1)
- Kootenai (2)
- Lemhi (1)
- Lewis (1)
- Nez Perce (1)
- Twin Falls (1)
The latest hospitalization data from Dec. 11 shows a continuing downward trend since hospitalizations peaked on Dec. 1 (496). As of Dec. 11, 444 Idahoans are in the hospital with COVID-19, with 101 in the ICU.
An estimated 47,497 recoveries have been made.
Sunday, December 13
6:13 p.m.- Nearly 550 new cases, six new deaths reported Sunday
Note: Health districts do not update their numbers on weekends. All data is pulled from the Idaho Dept. of Health and Welfare's website.
The Gem State added 547 new cases to its total number of COVID-19 cases on Sunday. 511 of the new cases are confirmed while the remaining 36 are probable.
There are now 121,179 confirmed and probable cases in Idaho. Of that number, 101,507 are confirmed.
Six new deaths were reported Sunday:
- Canyon- 4
- Gem- 1
- Payette- 1
There have been 1,180 COVID-19 related deaths in Idaho since March.
An estimated 46,980 recoveries have been made.
Saturday, December 12
5:22 p.m. - The Gem State adds 860 total cases and 4 new deaths
Idaho reported 722 confirmed and 138 probable cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, pushing the state's total number of cases to 120,632 since the pandemic began in March. Idaho has also reported 101,042 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Four new deaths were reported on Saturday as well. Two were in Ada County and Bannock and Owhyee counties both added one.
Friday, December 11
6:10 p.m. - Idaho reports 1,546 total new cases and 23 new deaths
The Gem State, based on data published by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the state's public health districts, added 1,161 confirmed and 385 probable cases on Friday. That pushes Idaho over 100,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic hit Idaho in March with 100,260. Idaho has reported 119,610 total cases of the coronavirus.
Ada County reported the most cases with 407, followed by Kootenai County's 144 cases and Canyon County's 141.
Idaho also reported 23 new deaths, leaving the state's death toll from the pandemic at 1,170.
The deaths happened in the following counties: (How many deaths reported in that county)
- Ada (7)
- Bingham (1)
- Bonner (1)
- Canyon (6)
- Freemont (1)
- Gem (2)
- Idaho (1)
- Kootenai (1)
- Owyhee (1)
- Payette (1)
- Twin Falls (1)
3:45 p.m. - Governor Little to increase the Idaho National Guard response to help battle COVID-19
The governor authorized an increase from 100 to 250 personnel serving on active duty.
This comes nearly a month after his executive order that mobilized 100 personnel for 30 days, coinciding with the public health order rolling Idaho back to a modified Stage 2 of the Idaho Rebounds plan.
The new authorization also allows guard personnel to continue performing their mission through March of 2021.
2:36 p.m. -- Southwest District Health moves Adams County to red health alert level, with increasing incidence rate and positivity rate
Daily incidence rates of COVID-19 remain at an elevated level across the district. This is based on data available for the date-range Nov. 22 – Dec. 5, 2020. Adams County has moved to the red health alert level this week. Currently, all six-counties within the jurisdiction of Public Health District 3 are at the red health alert level. As of Dec. 5, the daily district-wide incident rate per 10,000 is 9.22.
All six counties in the district are now experiencing community spread, which puts people living in and visiting these communities at higher risk for exposure.
Adams County saw a 94% increase in daily COVID-19 incidence, which brings the most recent incidence rate to 5.55 daily new cases per 10,000 people. Many of these new cases can be traced to travel and community events. Additionally, the test positivity rate for Adams County is 15.22% which has nearly tripled from last week. While there have been some COVID-19 cases in Adams County schools, there is no evidence of cluster outbreaks or transmission within the schools.
Thursday, December 10
6:47 p.m. -- 1,813 total new cases, 22 deaths reported on Thursday
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and local health districts on Thursday reported 1,423 new confirmed and 390 new probable cases - 1,813 cases in total.
With 99,099 confirmed cases since the beginning of the pandemic, Idaho will most likely cross the 100,000 mark on Friday.
Ada County and Canyon County remain the state's top hot spots, with 452 cases and 269 cases, respectively.
Also on Thursday, state health officials reported 22 new deaths statewide. Here's how they break down by county:
- Ada: 1
- Bannock: 2
- Bear Lake: 1
- Bonneville: 3
- Canyon: 1
- Cassia: 1
- Clearwater: 1
- Gem: 1
- Gooding: 1
- Idaho: 1
- Jefferson: 1
- Jerome: 1
- Minidoka: 1
- Nez Perce: 1
- Payette: 1
- Twin Falls: 3
- Washington: 1
12:27 p.m. -- South Central Public Health District reports COVID-19 related deaths more than doubled in November
COVID-19 related deaths reported to South Central Public Health District (SCPHD) have more than doubled in the last month. In November, 74 individuals fighting the COVID-19 virus died, totaling more deaths than the first seven months of the pandemic combined.
"You may see these numbers and assume the individuals were already gravely ill, but some of our highest-risk factors for severe COVID-19 symptoms are conditions that otherwise would not be considered a death sentence," said Tanis Maxwell, epidemiology program manager. "When you consider that common conditions like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, etc. are all risk factors, you begin to realize how many Idahoans really are in danger of severe side effects from this disease."
Of the 176 total deaths related to COVID-19 in south central Idaho by end of November, 84 were residents of long-term care facilities.
"These are our most vulnerable population in the state. Not only are they typically in their later years, but they are living in close quarters with each other and have frequent interactions with staff who come in and out of the facility every day," said Brenda Gully, COVID-19 Rapid Response Leader.
Currently 39 of 56 long-term care facilities in the region have an active outbreak. Several of these are uncontrolled, meaning they have more than 5 cases among their staff and residents.
Wednesday, December 9
5:59 p.m. - Idaho adds 2,229 total cases and over two dozen new deaths
The Gem State, based on data published by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the state's public health districts, added 1,838 new confirmed and 391 new probable cases on Wednesday, setting a new single-day record of total cases and confirmed cases reported.
Ada County was the state's largest hotspot, with 653 new cases reported - also a new record - followed by Bannock County's 164 and Canyon County's 133.
Idaho also added 37 new COVID-19-related deaths on Wednesday. However, Southwest District Health reported 12 new deaths in Canyon County that happened in October and November but did not specify the exact dates of the deaths.
Clearwater County reported its first death, leaving just three of Idaho's 44 counties without a single coronavirus-related death reported since the pandemic began spreading across the Gem State in March.
The deaths occurred in the following counties:
- Ada (3)
- Adams (1)
- Bannock (1)
- Benewah (1)
- Boundary (1)
- Canyon (12)
- Clearwater (2)
- Gem (1)
- Idaho (1)
- Kootenai (9)
- Minidoka (2)
- Owyhee (2)
- Washington (1)
How we track Idaho COVID-19 cases:
Every day, KTVB works diligently to ensure we are providing the most accurate, up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 cases in Idaho. We track our numbers the same way the Idaho Dept. of Health and Welfare does. However, we update our total number more frequently, meaning our numbers may not always match with the state.
The state updates the number of total cases every day around 5 p.m.
KTVB updates our running total once the state and local health districts have confirmed their total number of cases. See more details about how we track regional numbers ahead of the state releasing them here.
At KTVB, we’re focusing our news coverage on the facts and not the fear around the virus. To see our full coverage, visit our coronavirus section, here: www.ktvb.com/coronavirus.
Facts not fear: More on coronavirus
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