BOISE, Idaho — For the latest updates, click here.
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.
Monday, Oct. 5
5:27 p.m.- Idaho surpasses 40,000 confirmed cases; 5 new deaths reported, including first in Franklin County
44,422 total COVID-19 cases have been reported in the Gem State. The number of total confirmed cases has reached 40,292 after an additional 441 confirmed cases were reported Monday. 49 probable cases were also reported.
Ada County added 70 new cases today, making the county Monday's hotspot. Canyon County added 48 cases, followed closely by 46 cases in Madison County.
Five deaths were reported today. One of the deaths occurred in Franklin County, its first COVID-related death. Ada, Bannock, Cassia, and Kootenai counties all reported one new death. The statewide death toll is now 487.
The latest hospitalization data from October 3 reported 151 hospitalizations due to COVID-19. 36 people were admitted to the ICU.
An estimated 23,115 recoveries have been made.
2:30 p.m.- Central District Health updates school district categories, all districts in yellow
All school districts overseen by Central District Health were moved into the yellow category on Monday, meaning there is some community transmission within the district.
Basin, Garden Valley, Horseshoe Bend, Cascade, and McCall-Donnelly school districts were moved out of the green category and into yellow. Boise, Kuna, West Ada, Glenns Ferry, and Mountain Home school districts remain in the yellow category.
Sunday, Oct. 4
9:01 p.m.- Snake River Correctional Institute reports 11th COVID-positive inmate death
The man was between the ages of 60 and 70, and although he tested positive for COVID-19, it is unknown if that is the cause of death.
5:20 p.m.- 230 new confirmed cases, 2 deaths reported Sunday
Idaho's number of total COVID-19 cases is approaching 44,000. 230 new confirmed cases and 34 probable cases were reported on Sunday, bringing the total to 43,964. The number of confirmed cases has reached 39,851.
Two deaths were reported Sunday, one in Ada County and one in Canyon County. The statewide death toll is now 482.
An estimated 22,930 have recovered.
Saturday, Oct. 3
6:16 p.m. - Idaho adds over 450 total new cases and 4 new deaths on Sunday
The Gem State added 107 probable and 358 confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Sunday. The statewide total number of cases is now 43,702, with 39,621 confirmed cases.
Four new deaths were reported - two in Ada County and two in Kootenai County.
For the week of Sept. 26 through Oct. 2, Ada County was the state's largest hotspot of new cases, with 498 cases reported. Bonneville County was next with 319 new cases, followed by Canyon, Madison and Twin Falls counties.
1:19 p.m.- Snake River Correctional Institute reports tenth adult-in-custody death
A man incarcerated at the Snake River Correctional Institue (SRCI) passed away. He was between 75 and 85 years old. While this individual did test positive for COVID-19, it is not known at this time what his exact cause of death is.
A medical examiner is working to determine the cause of death. This is the tenth death in a COVID-19 positive inmate at SRCI.
Friday, Oct. 2
5:21 p.m. - 476 new confirmed cases; Ada County is Idaho's top hotspot of new cases
The Gem State reported 476 new and 124 probable cases on Friday, bringing the statewide total number of cases to 43,328. 39,263 cases are confirmed.
Three new deaths were reported, one in Elmore, Gem and Kootenai counties. Idaho's death toll from the pandemic is now 476.
Recoveries increased to 22,268.
Thursday, Oct. 1
5:31 p.m.- 391 new confirmed cases; 3 Idaho counties report first coronavirus-related death
391 additional confirmed cases were reported Thursday as well as 115 new probable cases. The statewide total now stands at 42,561 cases. Of that number, 38,787 are confirmed.
Ada County added 112 new cases to its total today. Twin Falls added 43 new cases, followed by 27 cases in both Kootenai and Canyon counties.
Three Idaho counties reported their first COVID-related deaths on Thursday: Caribou, Lewis and Teton. Jefferson County also reported one death, bringing the daily total to four. The statewide death toll has reached 473.
New testing data shows the positivity rate has increased from 7.9% last week to the current 9.4%. 19, 363 tests were performed last week, down from 20,724 the week before.
An estimated 22,371 have recovered.
2:31 p.m.- Gov. Little unveils Idaho coronavirus vaccine distribution plan
Idaho Gov. Brad Little, along with state public health officials, announced the state's COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan and testing resources coming to Idaho schools during a press conference on Thursday.
The goal of the federal government is to produce and deliver 300 million safe and effective doses of COVID-19 vaccines to all states beginning in January 2021.
Idaho's distribution plan is on track to be submitted to the federal government by October 16.
In addition to vaccine information, Little also highlighted that Idaho will receive 530,000 additional rapid antigen tests- Abbott BinaxNOW- over the next three months. These tests will be prioritized for schools.
2:07 p.m. --Boise schools to move to Phase 2 of reopening Monday
The Boise School District will move into Phase 2 of its reopening plan on Monday.
The second phase will open the door for children in third grade through sixth grade to return to some in-person classes. Previously, Pre-K through second-graders were the only grades doing in-person learning.
Students will have three days of virtual learning, and two days of in-person class. The groups of students will be divided in half alphabetically, with half of those students attending school in-person Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the other half going Wednesday and Friday.
School officials say they are aiming at getting all students back in the buildings for five-day-a-week in-person instruction by Nov. 9.
For more information on the district's phased reopening plan, click here.
11 a.m. -- Gov. Little to hold Thursday press conference
Idaho Gov. Brad Little will hold a press conference to discuss Idaho's next steps in the fight against coronavirus on Thursday.
The press briefing is set to begin at 1 p.m. and will be live-streamed here.
The governor is expected to announce whether Idaho will move forward out of Stage 4 restrictions. The state has seen a recent spike in coronavirus cases, particularly in Ada, Canyon, Twin Falls and Latah counties.
Wednesday, September 30
5:22 p.m. -- 517 new confirmed cases, 5 new deaths reported
The state of Idaho and local health districts are reporting 517 new confirmed cases and 127 new probable cases on Wednesday. There have now been 38,396 confirmed coronavirus cases in the state since the pandemic began.
The state's COVID-19 hot spots are Ada County with 86 confirmed cases reported on Wednesday, Canyon County with 54 cases, Twin Falls County with 54 and Latah County with 52.
After a lull in new cases earlier this month, Idaho has seen a dramatic uptick in new confirmed cases over the last couple of weeks. The graph below shows a sharp upward trend in the 14-day moving average.
For a closer look at Idaho's coronavirus numbers, including breakdowns by county, check out our interactive map and timelines.
Also on Wednesday, five new deaths were reported in Idaho. Ada, Canyon, Bonneville, Madison and Twin Falls counties each reported a single death. The statewide death toll since the beginning of the pandemic now stands at 469.
The state has released the latest hospitalization data, current as of Monday. According to the data, 135 people throughout the state were hospitalized with COVID-19 and 36 of them were in the ICU.
Tuesday, September 29
5:20 p.m. - Idaho adds over 500 cases, Ada County state's hotspot again
The Gem State added 417 confirmed and 84 probable cases on Tuesday, bringing the statewide total number of cases to 41,343. Of those, 37,879 cases are confirmed.
Four more people died from the coronavirus, with one each in Bannock, Cassia, Gem and Payette counties. Idaho's death toll from the pandemic is now 464.
Ada County reported the most cases on Tuesday with 59, followed by Twin Falls County's 38 and Canyon County's 37 new cases.
11:33 a.m.- Saint Alphonsus opens drive-up flu shot clinic
Saint Alphonsus Medical Group is opening a drive-up flu shot clinic at three locations across the Treasure Valley. Boise, Meridian and Nampa will hold these clinics beginning Tuesday through Oct. 30.
Beginning Tuesday, the Nampa location will open for adults and children. The Boise location will open on Wednesday followed by the Meridian location on Thursday.
Dates of operation at the clinics vary. You can visit the Saint Alphonsus website for directions to one of the locations, dates and times for the clinics, and scheduling appointments.
Read more here.
Monday, September 28
5:26 p.m.- 347 new confirmed cases; no new deaths reported for second consecutive day
347 new confirmed cases were reported on Monday. Idaho now has 40,923 total COVID-19 cases. Of that number, 37,462 are confirmed. 21,796 estimated recoveries have been made.
Ada County added 69 new confirmed cases, followed closely behind Latah County, which added 61 confirmed cases. Twin Falls County added 42 new confirmed cases.
For the second day in a row, no deaths were reported. The statewide death toll remains at 460.
The latest hospitalization data from Sept. 26 reported 137 hospitalizations. 38 of those were admitted to the ICU.
2:30 p.m.- Central District Health school color categories unchanged from last week
Boise, Kuna, West Ada, Glenns Ferry, and Mountain Home school districts remain in Category 2, or the "yellow" category. Basin, Garden Valley, Horseshoe Bend, Cascade, and McCall-Donnelly school districts remain in Category 1, or the "green" category.
11:45 a.m. -- University of Idaho Boise reopens for in-person classes
The U of I Boise facilities to reopen Monday include the Idaho Water Center and the Idaho Law and Justice Learning Center in downtown Boise.
"Both the Boise School District and Boise State University started offering some in-person classes this month and, after consulting with the Central District Health, we decided to be consistent with the community efforts and start in-person classes in Boise as well," said Chandra Zenner Ford, U of I Center Executive Officer, Boise and Southwestern Idaho.
Around 400 students and 120 faculty and staff will return to the Idaho Water Center and the ILJLC for in-person classes. After Thanksgiving break, all classes will be held online/remote.
The requirements at the U of I Boise facilities will be consistent with the university-wide requirements, except for mandatory testing for students, due to the availability of testing in Ada County. All faculty, students and staff who had been exposed or show COVID-19 symptoms are asked to self-quarantine, get tested and follow their doctor's advice.
Sunday, September 27
5:35 p.m.- 204 new confirmed cases, no deaths reported Sunday
204 new confirmed cases were reported Sunday, as well as 27 new probable cases. The number of total cases in Idaho is now 40,501, 37,115 of which are confirmed.
No new deaths were reported Sunday. An estimated 21,630 recoveries have been made.
3:43 p.m.- Snake River Correctional Institue reports ninth in-custody death of COVID-19 positive inmate
An in-custody adult at the Snake River Correctional Institute (SRCI) died at a local hospital on Sunday. He was 65-75 years of age.
This is the ninth in-custody death of an SRCI inmate who tested positive for COVID-19. It is not known at this time is the inmate's cause of death is COVID-19.
Saturday, September 26
7:13 p.m. - Over 425 confirmed cases and two new deaths reported
Idaho added 434 confirmed and 50 probable cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, bringing the state's total number of cases to 40,296 with 36,911 confirmed cases.
Two new deaths, one in Boise and Payette counties, were reported by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The Gem State's death toll is now 460.
The state now estimates that 21,468 cases have recovered since the pandemic began and 1,811 people have been hospitalized since then.
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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