On Wednesday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added 862 new cases and 14 new deaths to its statewide total, tying the record for the most reported deaths in a single day. That brings the statewide total to 61,785 known cases and 599 deaths.

Kootenai Health Hospital in Coeur d’ Alene reports that its facility is at 90 percent capacity, down from 99 percent capacity last week.

St. Luke’s in Boise had a seven percent increase in COVID patients overnight, while St. Lukes’s in Meridian, Nampa and the Magic Valley showed a slight decrease in new COVID patients. All of these hospitals still have a significant percentage of COVID cases overall, particularly in the Magic Valley.

Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello reports a 7 day average of 21 COVID cases per day, up from 8 per day in late August.

On Tuesday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added 882 new cases and 5 new deaths to its statewide total. That brings the statewide total to 60,923 known cases and 585 deaths.

The Idaho Press reports that ICU beds in the Southwest District Health region are now at about 70% capacity, with 17% of those occupied by COVID-19 patients. Inpatient beds are at 60% capacity, with 10% of those occupied by COVID-19 patients.

Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden is warning residents about misleading healthcare advertisements online, citing deceptive ads about a variety of products that claim to prevent COVID-19 infections or boost immunity to the virus. Idahoans can file complaints with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division if they see deceptive health claims or advertisements for fake coronavirus cures.

On Monday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added 697 new cases and 7 new deaths to its statewide total. That’s in addition to the 1,671 cases and 11 deaths added over the weekend, bringing the statewide total to 60,041 known cases and 580 deaths.

On Monday, Gov. Brad Little announced that Idaho is rolling back to Stage 3, after multiple hospitals around the state are at or near capacity because of an increase in COVID-19 cases.

Indoor gatherings are limited to 50 people, and outdoor gatherings are limited to 25 percent of a venue’s capacity. Bars can remain open, but all customers must be seated. Stage 3 does not affect churches or schools, and there is no associated mask order.

As Idaho breaks records for new COVID cases, the state continues to ask local governments to make mitigation decisions. That’s putting some officials in tricky positions.

This week, Dr. Joshua Kern of St. Lukes Magic Valley talks about what his hospital is facing as case counts rise across the state. Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News discusses how tensions between parents and teachers are affecting school board trustees.

Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News discusses rising cases numbers throughout the state, and how school board trustees are navigating the difficult choices ahead.

On Friday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added 1,073 new cases and 9 new deaths to its statewide total. That brings the statewide total to 57,673 known cases and 562 deaths.

Hospital officials across Idaho warn that they are running out of beds and staff to handle increasing COVID-19 case loads.

Kootenai Health Hospital in Coeur d’Alene is at 99% capacity. Patients in North Idaho may have to be sent to Seattle or Portland.

Hospitals in the Magic Valley are also overwhelmed, and because Boise area hospitals and Salt Lake City area hospitals are filling up, Saint Luke’s officials fear there may be no place to send critically ill patients.

On Thursday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added 950 new cases and 7 new deaths to its statewide total. That brings the statewide total to 56,600 known cases and 553 deaths.

South Central Public Health District, which covers the Magic Valley, declined to implement mask mandates for its region on Wednesday, opting instead to limit group sizes and to write a letter to Governor Brad Little to support a statewide mandate.

Eastern Idaho Public Health made no changes to its public health order at its Board of Health meeting on Thursday, and Panhandle Health District rescinded its existing mask order for Kootenai County despite its hospital being at 99% capacity.

All three regions are seeing surging case rates. We’ll have more on Friday’s Idaho Reports.

On Wednesday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added 987 new cases and 11 new deaths to its statewide total. That brings the statewide total to 55,650 known cases and 546 deaths.

The Central District Health board voted to allow visits to long-term care facilities in Ada County, under strict safety parameters. Because of the pandemic, visitors have not been allowed since March.

Idaho families can now apply for up to $3,500 to help pay for educational material, devices and services. The website went live today, so go to strongfamilies.idaho.gov to learn more.

Governor Brad Little’s Vaccine Advisory Committee will have its first meeting on Friday. The committee will develop a plan for distribution of the yet-to-be-released vaccine. The first doses will probably go to health care workers.

On Monday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added 698 new cases and 3 new deaths to its statewide total. That’s in addition to 1388 cases and 6 new deaths added over the weekend, bringing the statewide total to 53,790 known cases and 531 deaths.

Idaho is currently near the top of the list for states with the highest rates of infection over the last seven days, behind the Dakotas, Montana, Wisconsin and Nevada.

On Wednesday, eligible families who have been affected by distance learning can submit applications for grants of $1,500 per eligible student, with a max of $3,500 per family. Submit those applications at StrongFamilies.Idaho.Gov between Oct. 21 and December 8th.

On Tuesday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare added 873 new cases and 4 new deaths to its statewide total. That brings the statewide total to 54,663 known cases and 534 deaths.

Madison County continues to have the highest 7 day moving average incidence rate, with Cassia and Minidoka in second and third place. The top ten counties with the highest current incidence rates are all in eastern and central Idaho or the Magic Valley, and most of those are rural.