With coronavirus case numbers continuing to rise rapidly in Ada County, local health officials took action Monday.
Central District Health moved Ada County back to stage three of the state’s coronavirus reopening plans, effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. The impacts on education are limited — but the move will affect gatherings of 50 or more people and close bars across the county. Other businesses, including restaurants and movie theaters, will remain open.
The numbers aren’t in agreement, but they show a continued uptick.
On Monday, the state reported 1,307 coronavirus cases in Ada County; Central District Health had the number at 1,245. Either number is up significantly from the 1,100 cases reported Friday.
From June 12 through Friday, cases in Ada County increased by 25 percent. Much of the spread was traced to bars in Downtown Boise, but over the weekend, health officials determined that the outbreak was more widespread, forcing Monday’s announcement.
“This is more than just a bars and nightclubs issue,” said health district board member Ted Epperly, a Boise doctor.
Local officials acknowledged the new restrictions will create a hardship for businesses — and come as many Treasure Valley residents are facing what Ada County Commissioner Diana Lachiondo called “coronavirus fatigue.”
”Unfortunately, the virus is not fatigued,” she said.
The restrictions do not affect the other counties under Central District Health’s jurisdiction: Boise, Elmore and Valley counties. Nor do they affect neighboring Canyon County, which has also reported a spike in cases.
Some key trends from Friday through Monday.
| Statewide statistics | June 19 | June 22 | Change |
| Cases, confirmed and probable | 3,888 | 4,275 | 10 percent |
| Deaths | 89 | 89 | Unchanged |
| Hospitalizations | 279 | 293 | 5 percent |
| ICU admissions | 101 | 102 | 1 percent |
| Patients recovered | 3,183 | 3,405 | 7 percent |
| Tests completed | 70,791 | 75,730 | 7 percent |
| Positive test rate (approximate: some patients undergo multiple tests) | 5.5 percent | 5.6 percent | +0.1 percentage point |
| Cases in select counties | |||
| Ada County | 1,100 | 1,307* | 19 percent |
| Blaine County | 518 | 520 | 0.4 percent |
| Twin Falls County | 507 | 518 | 2 percent |
| Canyon County | 403 | 470 | 17 percent |
| Jerome County | 216 | 225 | 4 percent |
| Cassia County | 163 | 173 | 6 percent |
| Kootenai County | 115 | 129 | 12 percent |
| Minidoka County | 115 | 124 | 8 percent |
* Source: Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
More reading: More on the Ada County decision’s economic fallout from the Idaho Statesman, Idaho News 6 and Boise State Public Radio.
