Over the weekend, Idaho surpassed 100,000 known COVID-19 cases. On Monday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added 1,214 cases and 9 deaths to its statewide total. That brings the statewide total to 101,698 known cases and 929 deaths.

Monday’s deaths include two people who were in their 40s.

Last week, Idaho once again broke records for hospitalizations and ICU admissions, with 470 people hospitalized statewide, and 110 people admitted to the ICU.

Idaho’s positivity rate of 19 percent is also the highest it’s been since the start of the pandemic.

On Friday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added 1,997 new cases and 14 new deaths to its statewide total. Those numbers include cases from Thursday, bringing the statewide total to 98,500 known cases and 909 deaths.

The state’s positivity rate, or the number of COVID-19 tests coming back positive, is at its highest point since the beginning of the pandemic. The state’s average this week is 19.4 percent.

The State Board of Education will allow more applications for grants to help families pay for the cost of remote learning. The program had been closed because so many people applied, but officials felt some families needed more time. The website will open on Wednesday, December 2nd and you’ll have until December 4th to apply.

On Wednesday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added 1,773 new cases and 21 new deaths to its statewide total. That brings the statewide total to 96,503 known cases and 895 deaths.

Idaho leaders approved spending five million dollars of federal coronavirus relief funds to hire more hospital staff.

Health and Welfare director Dave Jeppesen says the state could see double the number of current COVID-19 patients by the end of December.

The Idaho Falls City Council voted last night to begin prosecuting gatherings of more than 10 people. The new order could start December 1st.

The Nampa School District will move to fully remote learning after the Thanksgiving break, joining the Boise and Caldwell School Districts.

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no updated numbers tomorrow, so we’ll see you back here on Friday. Until then, stay safe, Idaho.

On Tuesday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added 1,640 new cases and 8 new deaths to its statewide total. That brings the statewide total to 94,730 known cases and 874 deaths.

If Pfizer gets federal authorization, Idaho is in line to receive 90 thousand vaccine doses, enough for 45 thousand people, as early as next month. According to Idaho Education News, health care workers are first in line for the two-shot vaccine. Next will come K-12 teachers and staff, critical workers, those over 65 and those with high risk health issues.

The Lighthouse Rescue Mission, a men’s homeless shelter in Nampa, temporarily closed its doors today. Too many staffers were out because of COVID-19. Those men needing shelter will be transported to Boise’s Rescue Mission.

On Monday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added 1,437 new cases and 17 new deaths to its statewide total. That’s in addition to the 1,919 cases and 4 deaths added over the weekend, which brings the statewide total to 93,090 known cases and 866 deaths.

On Thursday, the state recorded a new record high for hospitalizations, with 463 patients hospitalized statewide.

Over the weekend, Dr. Jim Souza of St. Luke's Health System emphasized that Idaho hospitals may need to ration bed space in December — not just for COVID, but for all emergency procedures.

On Friday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added 1,786 new cases and 10 new deaths to its statewide total. That’s a new record for the highest single day of new reported cases. It brings the statewide total to 89,764 known cases and 845 deaths.

The Eastern Idaho Health District has moved Bonneville County into the critical risk category. Bonneville joins Lemhi, Madison and Teton counties for critical risk status.

Boise’s mandatory mask order goes into effect on Monday. Police can ticket or arrest anyone refusing to wear a mask and refusing to leave local businesses when asked. Businesses can temporarily lose their licenses if staffers or customers aren’t following mask orders.

Although the entire state is seeing uncontrolled spread of the virus, Idaho communities are approaching mitigation in wildly different ways.

This week, Dr. Vince Huntsberger of Bonner General Health in Sandpoint talks about how his hospital is affected by COVID-19 as other regional facilities are filling up.

Mehli Marcellus of Magic Valley’s South Central Public Health District discusses COVID-19 investigations, and where the majority of new outbreaks are coming from right now.

Finally, Betsy Russell of the Idaho Press discusses new property tax proposals and legislative leadership races.

On Thursday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added 1,543 new cases and 23 new deaths to its statewide total, the second highest single-day death count so far in the pandemic. That brings the statewide total to 87,978 known cases and 835 deaths.

The Panhandle Health District board voted this afternoon to implement a district-wide mask mandate for 60 days. The Panhandle Health District covers Boundary, Bonner, Shoshone, Kootenai, and Benewah counties.

The East Idaho Public Health board voted to reinstate a mask mandate for Custer County.

The South Central Public Health District board voted against a proposed mask mandate.

On Tuesday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added a new record of 1,781 new cases and 35 new deaths to its statewide total. That brings the statewide total to 85,125 known cases and 798 deaths.

Eight of those deaths were recorded in Bonneville County, seven were recorded in Ada County, five in Twin Falls County, three each in Caribou and Bannock counties, and one each in Canyon, Cassia, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Lemhi, Lincoln, Minidoka, Power, and Shoshone counties. One death previously attributed to Gem County was removed or reassigned.

Today was a day of healthcare meetings in the Treasure Valley.

Southwest District Health held a meeting where doctors from St. Luke's Health System warned that their system is close to a breaking point. The surge in COVID-19 cases is causing bottlenecks, putting off elective surgeries and delaying the movement of patients.

Boise Mayor Lauren McLean held a meeting with healthcare executives who warned that hospitals may have to start repurposing spaces like conference rooms because their clinical units are over capacity.

Healthcare leaders at the Boise meeting and at a separate press event held jointly by several Treasure Valley hospitals warn that the number of hospitalized COVID patients could double by Christmas.

On Wednesday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added 1,310 new cases and 14 new deaths to its statewide total. That brings the statewide total to 86,435 known cases and 812 deaths.

KTVB reports that Idaho’s positivity rate is the second highest in the nation, only behind Montana.

Central District Health issued a series of strong recommendations for residents of Ada, Valley, Elmore and Boise counties:

-wear facemasks anytime you’re within 6 feet of non-household members

-suspend youth and adult sports where physical distancing is not an option

-close bars by 10pm

-businesses should move to carryout and curbside service when possible

-avoid social gatherings of any size with people who are not in your household

These are not mandates, but could become health orders if pandemic conditions worsen.