Coronavirus 1,369 cases as Trump issues disaster declaration for Idaho

Apr. 10--The federal government has issued a disaster declaration for Idaho amid the coronavirus pandemic that's already claimed at least 24 residents' lives.

Meanwhile, Gov. Brad Little's three-week stay-home order remains in place until next Wednesday, April 15, in an effort to stop the virus's spread. Little says he'll decide early next week what to do next.

On Friday morning, the South Central Public Health District reported 12 new cases of coronavirus in four counties. Four cases were reported in Blaine County, bringing the total there to 450. Jerome County reported four , bringing the county's count to 28. Cassia County reported one, bringing the total to seven. Twin Falls County reported three,, for a total of 73.

In the Panhandle Health District, three new cases were reported in two counties. Kootenai County had two, bringing the county's count to 44. Bonner County had one, bringing its count to four.

The additions brought the statewide count to 1,369 people who have confirmed cases of coronavirus, the illness that causes the COVID-19 disease.

BEHIND OUR REPORTING

Why our case numbers might differ from the state's

The Idaho Statesman is tabulating confirmed coronavirus cases from Idaho's seven health districts as they're reported. The health districts report cases on their own schedules -- some issue press releases, some simply update totals on their websites. And the reports happen at various times throughout the day.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, meanwhile, updates its statewide numbers once a day at about 5 p.m. Its numbers only include the cases the health districts have reported directly to the department. In some cases, health districts have reported cases publicly but not to the department by the daily deadline.

We have a breakdown of each case included in our numbers here.

As of Thursday night, 24 people in Idaho had died as a result of COVID-19, according to public health officials.

Idaho has confirmed community spread in 13 counties: Ada, Bingham, Blaine, Bonneville, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Jefferson, Kootenai, Madison, Payette, Teton and Twin Falls.

Cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in 32 of Idaho's 44 counties: Ada, Adams, Bannock, Bingham, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Camas, Canyon, Caribou, Cassia, Custer, Elmore, Fremont, Gem, Gooding, Idaho, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Latah, Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Nez Perce, Owyhee, Payette, Power, Teton, Twin Falls, Valley and Washington.

The Department of Health and Welfare reported Thursday that at least 143 of Idaho's confirmed cases are in health care workers.

Albertsons limits customers in stores

Albertsons has joined Walmart and Fred Meyer in limiting the number of customers who can be inside a store so that 6 feet of distance can be maintained between customers.

The Boise grocery company told the Statesman that it is limiting customers to one per 150 square feet. That would allow about 300 customers into Albertsons' flagship store at 1650 W. State St., or 730 into the chain's biggest store, the 110,000-square-foot Albertsons Market Street store that opened last year in a former ShopKo space at Eagle Road and Fairview Avenue in Meridian.

The company is also making its aisles one-way, or "up and down;" and it is trying to obtain masks for all front-line workers, said Kathy Holland, a spokeswoman for Albertsons' Intermountain Division, which covers Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.

Trump issues Idaho disaster declaration

On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed a disaster declaration for Idaho that frees funding for state, local, and tribal agencies, as well as some nonprofits, that may need emergency protective measures.

The action also frees federal resources, such as authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help with recovery measures.

Business Editor David Staats contributed.

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