COVID-19 cases continue to rise locally and across the state

Idaho continues its upward spike in Covid-19 cases, both confirmed and probable, over the past week. The Idaho Division of Public Health is reporting triple digit increases daily for the state with Elmore county contributing daily to those numbers. The numbers reported in our last edition were gathered on July 5th. With Monday's July 13th reporting the state of Idaho as a whole jumped 3669 cases in the eight day span. The reported cases are 11,402 testing positive and 102 deaths. Of the 129,540 Idahoans tested it is an increase of 23,664 statewide. It is also being reported that 3,262 recovered, 500 in hospitals and 144 in ICU units. Another alarming number is that 760 cases are healthcare workers. As they continue daily to take care of Idahoans they have placed themselves at risk. Yesterday, July 13, had the first reported death of a healthcare worker when Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Samantha Hickey, 45, of Caldwell who was employed by St. Luke’s for the past 15 years. Hickey had no known underlying health conditions and her death came as a complete shock to her family and colleagues.

Idaho is currently reporting cases in 41 of 44 counties. Looking at some of the hot spots of Ada, Canyon, Twin Falls, Kootenai, Jerome, Cassia and Blaine counties, those seven counties account for 9,396 of the 11,402 cases which is 82 percent of those ill at home or hospitalized.

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