Coronavirus trendline, 1.15.21: Case numbers, and other metrics, show signs of improvement

Coronavirus case numbers slowed this week, and other key metrics showed signs of improvement.

Since Saturday, the state averaged 881 cases per day — down from 1,031 cases per day in a six-day period after New Year’s Day.

Friday’s bottom line: The state and its health districts are reporting 154,663 confirmed or probable coronavirus cases statewide, a 4 percent increase over the past week.

Other key numbers:

  • Hospital and ICU admissions decreased for the week.
  • While nearly a week old, the state’s numbers on positive test results also declined.
  • Eighty Idahoans died of COVID-19 in the past week, a weekly death toll more or less unchanged from the previous week.

In other coronavirus headlines from the week:

Vaccinations for K-12 employees. In a big development, the state of Idaho reworked its vaccination schedule, opening the door to the state’s K-12 teachers and employees. “The health of our teachers is paramount to ensuring students can learn in the classroom where they deserve to be,” Gov. Brad Little said Tuesday, as he announced the move.

Summer reading program? In his State of the State address Monday, Little laid out an ambitious plan for tax cuts and transportation funding. His education proposals didn’t break a lot of new ground. But he did propose $20 million for summer reading programs to help students who have fallen behind during the pandemic.

Back to school in Boise. The Boise School District will reopen schools next week, with students alternating between in-person and online school days. Schools in the state’s second-largest district have been closed since November.

Here are this week’s numbers, and comparisons with the previous week:

Statewide data Jan. 8 Jan. 15 Change, Jan. 3-8 Change, Jan. 9-15
Cases, confirmed and probable 148,493 154,663 6,188 6,170
Total cases, ages 0-4 2,161 2,255 84 94
Total cases, ages 5-12 5,162 5,396 232 234
Total cases, ages 13-17 8,229 8,576 319 347
Total cases, ages 18-29 37,099 38,691 1,415 1,592
Deaths 1,524 1,604 76 80
Patients ever hospitalized 5,995 6,269 308 274
Patients ever admitted to ICU 1,062 1,098 38 36
Patients recovered, estimated 64,538 70,163 4,374 5,625
Idahoans tested 559,371 574,288 11,363 14,917
Health care workers infected 7,579 8,032 445 453
Vaccine doses administered 28,194 51,233 9,667 23,039

Weekly positive test rate, as reported by the state: 11.4 percent for week ending Jan. 9; 15.7 percent for the week ending Jan. 2. Decrease: 4.3 percentage points.

Top 10 counties, by total cases Jan. 8 Jan. 15 New cases, Jan. 9-15 New cases per day, per 100,000 population
Ada 40,370 42,060 1,690 50.1
Canyon 21,644 22,597 953 59.2
Kootenai 13,754 14,725 971 83.7
Bonneville 10,737 11,055 318 38.2
Twin Falls 8,279 8,486 207 34.0
   
Bannock 6,748 7,039 291 47.3
Madison 5,425 5,631 106 38.1
Bingham 3,825 3,921 96 29.3
Nez Perce 3,123 3,191 68 24.0
Cassia 2,643 2,688 45 26.8
   
Ten hotspot counties (most daily cases, per 100,000 population) Jan. 8 Jan. 15 New cases, Jan. 9-15 New cases per day, per 100,000 population
Clearwater 848 921 73 119.1
Kootenai 13,754 14,725 971 83.7
Boundary 609 673 64 74.7
Valley 564 616 52 65.2
Teton 810 861 51 60.0
Adams 284 302 18 59.9
Bonner 2,162 2,353 191 59.6
Canyon 21,644 22,597 953 59.2
Blaine 1,605 1,700 95 58.9
Caribou 555 584 29 57.9

 

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

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