COVID-19 Update: December 10, 2021

December 10, 2021, Weekly Idaho Coronavirus Update | #IdahoCOVID19 Central District Health has announced it has detected the state’s first case of the highly transmissible omicron variant. The health district detected the case in an Ada County resident who recently traveled out of the state. The patient is older than 50, is fully vaccinated, and has experienced mild symptoms. Currently, all adults are eligible to get booster shots, which are recommended to slow the spread and severity of both the Delta and Omicron variants. On Wednesday, Idaho surpassed 4,000 recorded deaths due to COVID-19. The state hit 3,000 deaths on Sept. 28, meaning the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare recorded 1,000 additional COVID deaths in just 72 days. In comparison, it took 263 days for Idaho to hit its first 1,000 deaths. Statewide, the test positivity rate rose slightly to 7.1 percent, from 6.9 percent. This comes after weeks of falling rates, and may be due at least in part to Thanksgiving gatherings in late November. The positivity rate continues to vary by region, with 11.8 percent in East Idaho Public Health District, and 5.6 in Central District Health. Hospitalizations have stayed roughly steady, and statewide ICU admissions are dropping slightly. The Panhandle Health District remains under crisis standards of care.