Idahoâs COVID-19 positivity rate drops for third straight week, 7-day average also dips
Scripps
and last updated 2021-01-28 22:20:20-05
Idahoâs COVID-19 test positivity rate has decreased for the third week in a row.
On Thursday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported a rate of 8.3% on 29,286 tests for the week of Jan. 17-23. It is the lowest statewide positivity rate since mid-September, but still above the 5% threshold that experts say shows control over the spread of the virus.
Idaho hasnât reached a positivity rate below 5% since last June.
Five of the stateâs seven public health districts saw a drop in positivity from the previous week. Boise-based Central District Health had the lowest rate, at 6.3%. Southeastern Idaho Public Health was the only district to experience an increase, going from 6.2% to 7.2%. Eastern Idaho Public Healthâs rate remained at 10.1%. Panhandle Health District had the highest rate, at 11.9%.
Idaho teachers can get COVID-19 vaccine now; state adds more than 1,000 cases, 11 deaths
Idaho Educators Next in Line for COVID-19 Vaccine
and last updated 2021-01-13 08:32:50-05
Idaho teachers are now eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a new schedule for the vaccine rollout from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
Gov. Brad Little announced changes to the timeline on Tuesday afternoon, followed by a press briefing from the department.
Idahoâs latest coronavirus vaccine rollout schedule shows that first responders and safety workers, teachers and staff who work with children from infancy through high school, and correctional facility staff may now start getting vaccinated for COVID-19.
Idaho records more than 1,700 new COVID-19 cases mostly in two counties Ruth Brown and Jacob Scholl, The Idaho Statesman
Dec. 23 Idaho recorded 1,272 new confirmed COVID-19 cases Tuesday and 468 new probable cases, for a total of 1,740 new cases reported in one day.
Ada County reported 539 new confirmed cases, bringing the countywide total to 30,562 confirmed infections, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Boise-based Central District Health s data backlog continues to obscure what the county s daily caseload is. Ada has added 349.1 confirmed cases per day in the past week.
Kootenai County reported 299 new confirmed cases, bringing the countywide total to 10,466 confirmed infections, according to the Panhandle Health District.
Health and Welfare adds COVID-19 vaccine tracker; Idaho reports more than 1,800 new cases
and last updated 2020-12-15 21:49:59-05
The public can now keep track of how many COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Idaho using the tracker posted on the Idaho Department of Health and Welfareâs website.
On Monday, health care workers at Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg were the first Idahoans to receive the new Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. As of Tuesday, 38 vaccine doses had been administered statewide, according to IDHW.
Hospitals throughout Idaho are expecting to receive their first vaccine shipments this week. These shipments are designated for hospital staff and outpatient clinic staff who provide care for COVID-19 patients, according to Health and Welfare.
Record positivity rates reported across Idaho as COVID-19 cases continue to soar Nicole Foy, The Idaho Statesman
The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on Idaho continues to worsen by nearly every metric the state uses to track it.
Thursday, updated positivity rates reported by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and local health districts broke records again. Roughly 20% of Idahoans tested were positive for the coronavirus last week, up from 18.3% the previous week. That means roughly one of every five Idahoans tested had the coronavirus last week.
Positivity rates for four of the state’s seven health districts also broke records. Boise-based Central District Health reported 18.5% positivity, health districts based in Coeur d’Alene (Panhandle) and Lewiston (North Central) reported 24% and 21.6% positivity rates and the Southeastern Idaho Public Health District based in Pocatello recorded a 15.5% positivity rate. Eastern Idaho Public Health District was at a