COVID-related hospitalizations in Idaho continue to hit abnormal highs with hospitals operating under crisis care standards.

On Thursday, 53 people were reported dead in one day due to COVID, setting a new single-day record, and the statewide death toll is now at more than 2,900 people.

State officials continue to stress that the number of child infections is increasing. Weekly case counts are now increasing more rapidly in kids than case counts in adults, according to the Department of Health and Welfare.

Nearly 1,700 cases were reported last week in children, most school districts in Idaho do not have mask mandates, and there has been an increase in pediatric hospitalizations due to the virus.

No Idaho child has died of causes related to COVID-19 as of Thursday, but there have been children with serious illness due to the virus.

Case positivity rates have dropped modestly, down to 15.4 percent, but that’s still well above the goal of keeping it below 5 percent.

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