BOISE, Idaho — Click here for the most recent 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.
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.
Saturday, December 5
5:34 p.m. - Idaho adds 1,223 total cases and no new deaths on Saturday
Based on data published by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the state's public health districts, the Gem State added 1,011 confirmed and 212 probable cases and no new deaths on Saturday.
Since the pandemic hit Idaho in March, the state has reported 109,705 total and 92,534 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The state's death toll currently stands at 1,037.
Estimated recoveries increased slightly to 42,932.
Friday, December 4
6:55 p.m.- Nearly 1,900 new cases reported Friday, breaking previous record for single-day case increase
Idaho added 1,862 new COVID-19 cases to the statewide total. Friday's report is the highest number of new cases reported in a single day since the pandemic began. The previous record was set on Nov. 24.
1,455 of the cases reported are confirmed while 407 are probable. There are now 108,366 confirmed and probable cases in Idaho. Of that number, 91,523 are confirmed.
Ada County added 433 new cases today, followed by 243 in Kootenai County. Canyon County added 200 new cases.
14 deaths were reported on Friday. Here's how they break down by county:
- Ada- 6
- Canyon- 4
- Bannock- 2
- Owyhee- 1
- Madison- 1
An estimated 42,671 have recovered.
Thursday, December 3
8:33 p.m. - 1,841 new confirmed and probable cases, 23 deaths reported on Thursday
State and local health officials reported 1,384 new confirmed and 457 new probable cases - a total of 1,841 new cases on Thursday.
Since the pandemic reached Idaho in March, more than 90,000 people have tested positive for the virus.
Of the new cases, Ada County had the most by far with 356. Canyon County had 159 and Kootenai County had 128.
Also on Thursday, the state reported 23 additional coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the statewide death toll to 1,023. Eight of the deaths reported on Thursday occurred in Ada County and three each were reported in Canyon and Owyhee counties.
1:07 p.m. -- Emmett Middle School to shut down for cleaning
Emmett Middle School will be closed Friday, Dec. 5 for a deep clean after multiple staff members caught COVID-19.
Ten employees are either quarantined or confirmed positive for the virus. The school district says they attempted to fill all the vacancies with substitute teachers, but were unable to get enough.
"At this point, we're only closing the Middle School for Friday," Superintendent Craig Woods said.
Athletic events will continue as normal. Meals will be available for pickup between 12:45 and 1:30 p.m. at Emmett Middle School and at Shadow Butte Elementary School from 12:45-1:30 p.m. Parents must come to the front door to pick up food; curbside delivery is not available.
Emmett School District, which has mandated face coverings for students and staff, says the majority of the infections have come from contact with people outside the school.
"We can control what happens in the schools during school time, but we are not able to stop the spread in homes and the community," Woods said.
Wednesday, December 2
7:20 p.m. - Idaho breaks record for number of coronavirus-related deaths reported in a single day
Idaho set an unfortunate record on Wednesday when state and local health officials reported 34 coronavirus-related deaths in a single day. The state has now reached 1,000 deaths since the pandemic began earlier this year.
Here's how the deaths announced on Wednesday break down by county:
- Ada: 5
- Bonneville: 5
- Canyon: 4
- Owyhee: 4
- Idaho: 3
- Kootenai: 3
- Twin Falls: 3
- Bingham: 2
- Bonner: 2
- Bannock: 1
- Nez Perce: 1
- Shoshone: 1
Also on Wednesday, health officials reported 1,094 new confirmed and 423 new probable cases, for a total of 1,517 cases. Nearly 89,000 people have tested positive for the virus in Idaho since March.
Of the new cases, 293 were in Ada County and 151 were in Canyon County.
The state has also released new hospitalization data. As of Monday, 466 people statewide were hospitalized with COVID-19. That's down from the record 470 on Nov. 25, but up from the drop seen over the weekend. Of those hospitalized, 108 of them were in the ICU on Monday, down from the record high of 113 on Sunday, Nov. 29.
Tuesday, December 1
6:10 p.m. - 1,556 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases were reported in Idaho on Tuesday.
Here are the latest figures from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare: 1,097 new confirmed, 459 new probable, for a total of 1,556 new cases statewide on Tuesday.
That brings the total number of confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic to 87,606. Overall, there has been 103,305 confirmed and probable cases.
The hotspots are Ada County with 340 new cases, Canyon County with 158, and Kootenai County with 151.
Also on Tuesday, 29 new deaths were reported, bringing the statewide total to 996. Here's where those deaths were reported on Tuesday: Ada (4), Bannock (1), Bonneville (2), Boundary (1), Elmore (1), Franklin (1), Gooding (1), Idaho (3), Jerome (2), Kootenai (3), Lemhi (1), Nez Perce (4), Twin Falls (4), Washington (1)
Monday, November 30
6:07 p.m.- Over 1,300 new cases, record-high ICU patient count reported Monday
1,349 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Gem State on Monday. The Idaho Dept. of Health and Welfare added 975 new confirmed cases and 374 new probable cases to the statewide total.
One day after surpassing 100,000 total cases, Idaho is now reporting 101,698 confirmed and probable cases. Of that number, 86,509 are confirmed.
Ada County added 302 new cases to its total, more than doubling the 132 cases added in Canyon County.
16 deaths were reported in Idaho on Monday. Kootenai and Minidoka counties each reported four deaths while Bannock County reported three. Bonneville County reported two deaths while Ada, Bonner and Payette counties reported one death each.
The statewide death toll now stands at 937.
446 Idahoans are currently in the hospital due to COVID-19, according to the latest hospitalization data from Nov. 28. Of that number, 110 are in the ICU, tying the record for the highest rate of ICU patients since Nov. 27.
An estimated 40,929 have recovered.
1:53 p.m.- Inmate at Payette County jail dies due to COVID-19 complications
An inmate at the Payette County Detention Facility passed away due to complications of COVID-19 on Nov. 25, 2020.
59-year-old Andrew Cremers was booked into the jail on Oct. 28, 2020, and was transferred to a nearby hospital when he began showing symptoms of COVID-19 on Nov. 20. Five days later, he passed away at a Treasure Valley hospital.
Cremers was in a cell with one other inmate at the time his symptoms appeared. That inmate is in quarantine and is not showing COVID-19 symptoms.
The Payette County Sheriff's Office is working with Southwest District Health to monitor, screen and test inmates within the jail.
Sunday, November 29
6:11 p.m.- Idaho surpasses 100,000 COVID-19 cases
Idaho reached a grim milestone on Sunday as the number of confirmed and probable cases reached 100,484. A total of 837 new cases- 707 confirmed and 130 probable- were reported today. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is now 85,534.
Two deaths were reported Sunday. The Idaho Dept. of Health and Welfare reported one death each in Twin Falls and Cassia counties, bringing the statewide death toll to 921.
An estimated 40,461 recoveries have been made.
Saturday, November 28
6:18 p.m. - Idaho adds over 800 new cases and 5 deaths on Saturday
The Gem State, based on data published by the state's public health departments and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, added 649 confirmed and 159 probable cases of COVID-19 on Saturday. There are now 99'660 total and 84,827 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Idaho.
Five new deaths were reported, three in Bonneville County and two in Ada County, which brings the state's death toll from the pandemic to 919.
Friday, November 27
6:39 p.m.- Over 2,000 new COVID-19 cases reported for Thursday and Friday
Note: South Central District Health did not update their COVID-19 data on Thursday or Friday.
2,074 new cases were reported over the last two days. On Thursday, the Idaho Dept. of Health and Welfare did not update their numbers due to the Thanksgiving holiday but updated the totals on Friday.
551 new COVID-19 cases were reported for Thursday while 1,523 new cases were reported for Friday. 1,214 of those cases are confirmed and 309 are probable.
With reports from Thursday and Friday, Idaho is now reporting 84,178 confirmed cases. In total, the state has 98,500 confirmed and probable cases.
13 new deaths were reported on Friday but it is not known whether these deaths occurred on Thursday or Friday. Three were in Bonneville County, two were reported in both Ada and Nez Perce counties, and one was reported in Boundary, Fremont, Latah, Lewis, Madison and Washington counties. There are now 914 deaths being reported in Idaho.
The latest hospitalization data from Wednesday, Nov. 25 reported 470 COVID-19 related hospitalizations, the highest ever reported in Idaho. Of that number, 92 are receiving intensive care.
An estimated 39,900 recoveries have been made.
12:32 p.m.- Idaho COVID-19 positivity rate nearing 20%
The latest COVID-19 positivity rate data shows the statewide rate nearing 20%.
As of last week (Nov. 15-21), Idaho's positivity rate increased 1.2%, moving from 18.2% to 19.4%.
The number of tests performed decreased from the previous week as well. During the week of Nov. 15-21, 39,922 tests were performed, down from 41,100 the week before.
Terminology:
- "Recoveries" are tracked by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The state says it "Is defined as the number of persons with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis who are alive 30 days post-onset (or referral date if onset is not available) based upon total cases, deaths, and any clinical info available."
- "Confirmed" cases refer to a person who was tested for COVID-19 and tested positive.
- "Probable" cases refer to a person who is exhibiting symptoms after coming in contact with a person who has a confirmed case. Though a probable case is not confirmed, the state will monitor the person for symptoms.
- "Total cases" refers to the number of confirmed and probable cases combined. We will always clarify how many of the total cases are confirmed and how many are probable in our daily updates.
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.
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