COVID-19 hospitalizations in Idaho reach a record level. State adds 15 deaths as well.

Rachel Roberts
·2 min read

Correction: Because of a data-entry error, the state’s seven-day moving average was stated incorrectly in an earlier version of this story. The correct seven-day average is 1,005.7, which is not a record.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 1,503 new cases of COVID-19 and 15 new coronavirus-related deaths statewide on Wednesday.

The swift rise in cases since early July — an increase of more than 1,900% — is reflected in the latest hospitalization data from Health and Welfare. The state was forced to implement crisis standards of care Tuesday in two health districts in North Idaho.

Idaho’s seven-day moving average stands at 1,005.7 cases per day.

As of Monday, there were at least 561 people hospitalized in Idaho with COVID-19, including 165 in intensive care. Gem State hospitals have had 500-plus COVID-19 patients hospitalized daily since Aug. 28, which is also unprecedented. The previous high for COVID-19 hospitalizations before the current surge was 496 on Dec. 1. A record 578 were hospitalized Sunday.

There are currently only 10 ICU beds that are open, staffed and available for occupancy statewide, according to Health and Welfare data.

Five counties added 100 or more new cases Wednesday — Canyon (257), Ada (208), Kootenai (201), Twin Falls (118) and Bonneville (117). Of the state’s 45 counties, only three (Butte, Camas, Valley) did not report new cases.

The new deaths added were in Ada (1 new, 534 total), Bear Lake (1 new, 7 total), Bingham (1 new, 80 total), Canyon (5 new, 356 total), Caribou (2 new, 14 total), Gem (1 new, 47 total), Minidoka (1 new, 35 total), Payette (1 new, 41 total), Twin Falls (1 new, 154 total) and Washington (1 new, 27 total) counties.

According to updated demographics from Health and Welfare, those deaths included one person in their 30s, one in their 40s, four in their 50s, two in their 60s, four in their 70s and three who were 80 or older. In January, the mean age for COVID-19 deaths in Idaho was 77.9. That average has dropped to 71.4.

Idaho has lost 2,426 residents to the virus, with a case fatality rate of about 1.06%.

For a county-by-county breakdown of Wednesday’s new cases, see our “What we know” file at IdahoStatesman.com.