Editor's note: The number of recovered COVID-19 patients dropped from 4,393 to 2,801 on July 2. An error in auto-calculation was discovered by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare on July 1.
We're closely tracking Idaho's number of deaths and cases of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, as well as what's happening as Idaho reopens. Scroll down to see our live updates from each day.
We have multiple graphs and timelines looking at the coronavirus case trends in Idaho, including a new graph showing a 14-day average that the State of Idaho has been tracking to determine the appropriate reopening stage.
Saturday, July 4
6:08 p.m. - Idaho adds a record 396 confirmed cases on Saturday
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and health districts across Idaho reported a record-breaking 396 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Gem State. Both Ada and Canyon counties reported over 100 new cases on the Fourth of July. The 14-day average for new cases per day is now at 242.3077, a new record.
No new deaths reported, but Health and Welfare retracted two probable cases of the coronavirus, which still leaves the state with a total of 7,370.
Recoveries improved slightly with a new total of 2,858 recoveries.
In case you missed it:
- Boise mayor signs health order requiring face masks in public
- 'We’ve been pushing for something like this': Downtown Boise business owners react to mask requirement
- Treasure Valley fireworks stands see spike in sales as cities cancel Fourth of July celebrations
- Boise State to drop baseball, swimming and diving programs over budget concerns
- Albertsons Boise Open will go on, but without fans in attendance.
- Travelers to Chicago from 15 coronavirus 'surge' states, including Idaho, must quarantine first
- McCall businesses welcome visitors wearing masks
- Boise School District creates online option for upcoming school year amid coronavirus concerns
- New unemployment claims in Idaho jump 26% in a week
Friday, July 3
5:22 p.m.- Idaho reports 6,420 confirmed cases, 93 deaths and 2,831 recoveries; State sees largest increase in COVID-19 related hospitalizations.
Note: The number of new confirmed cases on Friday does not include some cases reported on Thursday by individual health districts.
Idaho Dept. of Health and Welfare is currently reporting 6,420 confirmed cases of COVID-19. In addition, the state is reporting 93 deaths and 2,831 recovered.
335 new confirmed cases were reported on Friday, with Ada County having the highest number of new cases in a single day. Ada County is reporting 142 new cases, while Canyon County reported 113 new cases and Kootenai County reported 32 new cases.
Canyon County has now surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases, bringing the state total to 1,011.
Idaho also saw a large jump in the number of people hospitalized with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 symptoms on Friday with 75 people being admitted to the hospital. This is the highest single day total since the state started tracking confirmed cases.
18 people are in the ICU as of Wednesday.
2:25 p.m.- Shoshone County reports first confirmed case of COVID-19
Panhandle Health District has confirmed the first positive case of COVID-19 in Shoshone County. This confirmation means only three counties in Idaho have zero confirmed cases.
The individual in Shoshone County is a male in his thirties. He has been advised to self isolate for at least two weeks, according to PHD.
12:18 p.m.- Idaho Shakespeare Festival cancels the remainder of 2020 season
Charles Fee & Mark Hofflund, creators of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, sent out a release stating that the final production will be canceled due to the state's spike in COVID-19 cases.
"With COVID-19 sharply on the rise, cases in Boise are as high as when we cancelled Much Ado About Nothing and Ain't Misbehavin' in April," they stated. "Tempest-tossed again, the safety of our audience, cast, crew, and community is an ever-fixed star. It does not alter when it alteration finds; and, indeed, remains uppermost in thought."
Those who have purchased tickets have donated funds to the remaining production and upcoming productions, according to the release.
9:06 a.m.- Idaho Department of Corrections confirms 119 positive COVID-19 cases within inmates
Following mass testing of 258 people at IDOC, officials confirmed that 103 people within the E block of the facility have tested positive for COVID-19. 146 tested negative and nine tests are pending.
IDOC said 107 people are asymptomatic and 12 are displaying symptoms. Inmates in other blocks are being tested in the coming days and results will be available soon, according to IDOC.
Thursday, July 2:
6:31 p.m. -- Albertsons Boise Open will go on, but without fans in attendance
The Albertsons Boise Open announced Thursday evening that the 2020 event will be contested without spectators in attendance.
The longstanding Korn Ferry Tour tournament, which has been held at Hillcrest Country Club since 1990, will be played as scheduled, August 13-16.
“It is unfortunate that we will not be able to host our loyal and passionate fans for this year’s event, but the well-being of the Boise and Treasure Valley communities has remained of utmost importance throughout the COVID-19 pandemic," Executive Jeff Sanders said in a statement. "With deadlines approaching tied into the operational logistics of running a professional golf tournament, it became readily apparent that conducting the 2020 event with fans onsite would not be a possibility in this ever-changing climate.”
The decision was at least partly attributed to Ada County rolling back to Stage 3 restrictions, which prohibit gatherings of more than 50 people.
The event – one of the four original tournaments from the Korn Ferry Tour’s inaugural 1990 season – has raised over $25 million for Treasure Valley charities.
All four rounds of the Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft & Nabisco will be broadcast live on GOLF Channel, with airtimes to be announced at a later date. More information on this year's Albertsons Boise Open, can be found here.
6:14 p.m. -- IDOC: 16 Idaho inmates at Boise-area prison have tested positive for COVID-19
The Idaho Department of Correction announced late Thursday afternoon that a total of 16 inmates at a prison south of Boise have now tested positive for COVID-19.
Mass testing of hundreds of inmates at the Idaho State Correctional Center began on Monday after three inmates initially tested positive for the virus last week.
According to officials, the test results so far show 16 total cases in six of ISCC's eight housing units. Seven of the inmates who tested positive are asymptomatic.
IDOC said it hoped to make more results from the first mass-testing effort available later Thursday night.
5:44 p.m. -- Canyon County surpasses Ada County in new daily cases
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and local health districts are reporting 279 new confirmed and probable cases, bringing the statewide case total since the pandemic began to 6,593 (confirmed and probable cases).
For the first time, Idaho is now averaging more than 200 new daily cases over a two-week period.
Also for the first time, Canyon County surpassed Ada County in new confirmed cases on Thursday. Canyon had 79, while Ada had 77. The two Treasure Valley counties remain the top hot spots in the state. The other hotspot is Kootenai County with 40 new confirmed cases.
One new death was reported on Thursday in Bingham County. According to Southeastern Idaho Public Health, the man was in his 80s and had underlying health conditions. He was a resident at The Willows Retirement and Assisted Living facility in Blackfoot, where one staff member tested positive for COVID-19. It was the second death attributed to coronavirus in southeast Idaho.
The statewide death toll now stands at 93.
For a closer look at the numbers, including county breakdowns and trends, check out our interactive map and timelines.
Wednesday, July 1:
9:42 p.m. -- In case you missed it:
- McCall City Council passes health order requiring masks
- Judge: State must allow Reclaim Idaho to collect signatures electronically; state appeals
- Idaho getting caught up on pending unemployment claims
- Why there's a delay in reporting Idaho's coronavirus hospitalizations
5:26 p.m. -- Ada County continues to lead state in new COVID-19 cases
The state and local health districts are reporting 257 new cases on Wednesday, with 20 of those considered "probable." That brings the statewide total since the beginning of the pandemic to 6,374 confirmed and probable cases.
Ada County continues to lead the state with 107 new confirmed cases on Wednesday, followed by Canyon County with 44 and Kootenai County with 23.
The statewide death count stayed at 92 for the second day in a row. State health officials estimate that there 4,393 people have recovered from the virus.
For a deeper look at the numbers, including county breakdowns and trends, check out our interactive map and timelines.
5:12 p.m. -- Hyde Park Street Fair canceled
This year's Hyde Park Street Fair has been canceled, the North End Neighborhood Association announced on Wednesday.
The association's board of directors said they made the difficult decision Tuesday night due to increasing COVID-19 concerns. This is the first time in 40 years that the popular fair will not be held in Boise's historic North End neighborhood.
The fair was originally scheduled for September 18-20 at Camel's Back Park.
"Ultimately, it's the right thing to do," NENA President Mark Baltes said in a statement. "The Board felt like we had a responsibility to safeguard the health of our neighbors, loyal fairgoers, community, and vendor participants."
Boise would need to be in Stage 4 of the pandemic response plan for the fair to occur, and with the recent move back to Stage 3, which restricts gatherings to 50 people or less, it is unclear when that might happen, the neighborhood association said.
The fair is set to return to Camel's Back Park on September 17-19, 2021.
4:12 p.m. -- Eagle Fun Days fireworks show canceled
The city of Eagle has decided to cancel its annual fireworks show, a highlight of Eagle Fun Days, after the city's park permit was revoked.
The July 10 fireworks show was scheduled to be a drive-in style event to allow for social distancing, city officials said in a news release. But due to Ada County being rolled back to Stage 3 restrictions, which limits gatherings to 50 people or less, the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation revoked the city's permit for the park.
"We are disappointed with this outcome and know many of our residents will be as well," officials said. "We hope to make it up to everyone with a bigger, better celebration next year for Eagle's 50th Anniversary."
2:30 p.m. -- Ada County mandates masks at county buildings
All employers and visitors to Ada County facilities will now be required to wear a mask or face covering at all times while inside the buildings.
Mask-wearing should be combined with frequent handwashing and keeping physical distance from other people, according to county officials.
As cases rise in the Treasure Valley, slowing the spread of the virus is imperative so that Idaho can move forward to Stage 4 instead of sliding back to a phase with greater restrictions, commissioners said.
"Thank you to everyone who is doing their part to reduce community spread, allowing us all to return to normal operations as soon as possible," officials wrote in a press release.
Tuesday, June 30
9:51 p.m. - In case you missed it:
- 'We may mandate it': Idaho governor talks about masks on weekly AARP telephone town hall
- How coronavirus is impacting law enforcement agencies across the Treasure Valley
- Boise Hawks cancel 2020 season due to COVID-19
- 'I think that's a mistake': Former Idaho governor weighs in on push to limit state's executive branch powers
- Idaho Gov. Brad Little addresses potential special legislative session
5:34 p.m. - Idaho tops 300 daily cases; Canyon County hits new high
The state and local health districts are reporting 320 new confirmed cases and 24 probable cases of COVID-1 throughout Idaho on Tuesday. It's just the second time, Idaho has topped 300 cases in a single day. The other was just four days ago - on June 26.
Ada County again led the state in new cases with 99. Canyon County added 91 new cases on Tuesday, it's highest daily total so far. Other hotspots are Kootenai, Twin Falls, and Cassia counties.
Jerome County reported an additional death related to COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 92.
Statewide, there have now been 5,575 confirmed cases and 4,233 recoveries, according to the state's website.
For a deeper look at the numbers, including county breakdowns and trends, check out our interactive map and timelines.
11:11 a.m. - 2020 Nampa Festival of the Arts canceled
Nampa Parks and Recreation announced Tuesday that this year's Nampa Festival of the Arts will be canceled over COVID-19 concerns.
The festival, which has run for 33 years, was scheduled for Aug. 8 and 9 at Lakeview Park. Parks and Rec officials say the decision to cancel was difficult, but necessary.
"Our hope was to implement necessary guidelines to protect the safety of everyone attending, but we ultimately realized the risk is too great with COVID-19 cases rising in the Treasure Valley," said Director Darrin Johnson.
Next year's festival is planned for Aug. 14 and 15, 2021.
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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