2:54
Starting on Monday, Idahoans 65 and older were eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Many providers started making appointments on Monday, but some began signing people up earlier.
Signs of the frenzy began this past weekend, when the Saint Alphonsus Health System cancelled its first dose appointments in Nampa and at various clinics due to limited supply.
Karen Campbell from Meridian had one of those cancelled appointments, which she’d scheduled last Thursday. She’s 75 years old and has rheumatoid arthritis. Her doctor told her she should get the vaccine as early as possible because of her age and compromised immune system.
Idaho adds fewer than 300 COVID-19 cases Saturday as weekly average falls below 500
Idaho Statesman
and last updated 2021-01-31 18:22:29-05
Idahoâs COVID-19 case counts continued to fall Saturday, bringing the stateâs seven-day moving average of confirmed and probable cases even lower than in recent days and prompting state health officials to suspend data reporting on Sundays.
Statewide, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and local health districts reported 229 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 Saturday, along with 67 probable cases, for a total of 296 cases Saturday.
In recent weeks, the number of COVID-19 cases has dropped since reaching a peak of more than 1,500 per day in mid-December. By Saturday, the stateâs seven-day moving average of confirmed and probable cases was 479.6 cases per day â the lowest since Oct. 3.
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%.
43:54
Monday Feb. 1, Idaho will open the COVID-19 vaccine to people 65 and older. The state warns that the group which includes 269,000 Idahoans while the state is receiving just 21,000 doses of the vaccine each week will take time to vaccinate.
At the same time, new cases of coronavirus and accompanying hospitalizations are on a fairly sustained decline.
Idaho Matters poses your questions about the pandemic to three medical experts:
Dr. Patrice Burgess is the Executive Medical Director for Saint Alphonsus Health System and Chair of the Governor s Vaccine Advisory Committee
Dr. Joshua Kern is the Vice President of Medical Affairs for St. Luke s Magic Valley
Idaho adds over 570 new coronavirus cases and 16 deaths, reports fewer hospitalizations Ruth Brown and Jacob Scholl, The Idaho Statesman
Jan. 26 Idaho reported 463 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Monday, with 113 new probable cases, and added 16 new deaths and three counties continued to represent the bulk of the additions.
COVID-19 hospitalizations have continued to dip in the state, and on Friday there were 213 coronavirus patients hospitalized, the lowest number since October, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
Ada County reported 103 new confirmed cases Monday, bringing the countywide total to 37,326, according to Health and Welfare. The county also reported four new deaths from COVID-19-related causes.