COVID-19 deaths in eastern Idaho jump to 193; recoveries at nearly 23,000
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IDAHO FALLS — Reporting new COVID-19 deaths is becoming increasingly common in eastern Idaho’s two health districts.
As of Tuesday evening, 193 eastern Idahoans have died as a result of contracting the COVID-19 virus. That equals out to 109 in Eastern Idaho Public Health and 84 in Southeastern Idaho Public Health.
The vast majority of those deaths have been in the last two months. On Oct. 2, EastIdahoNews.com reported only 45 eastern Idahoans had died from the novel coronavirus.
As is the case statewide and nationally, the vast majority of eastern Idaho deaths are among individuals above age 60. However, five people in their 40s and two people in their 30s have also died from COVID-19.
Statewide, the death toll rose to 960 as of Tuesday evening.
Despite the growing number of deaths, public health officials remind residents that recoveries far exceed deaths. COVID-19 has an extremely high recovery rate and the vast majority of people who catch the virus will recover at home with no problems.
As of Tuesday, nearly 23,000 people have recovered from the virus in eastern Idaho and over 41,000 have recovered statewide.
While recoveries are always good news, medical officials remain concerned about hospitalization rates, which are taxing medical resources and staffing.
Hospitals in western and central Idaho are reporting increasingly limited space in their ICUs due to COVID-19 patients and those with other ailments, the Idaho Statesman reported Tuesday.
In eastern Idaho — there are 82 COVID-19 patients spread between Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, Idaho Falls Community Hospital, Madison Memorial Hospital, Bingham Memorial Hospital and Power County Hospital District. Of those, 22 COVID-19 patients are in the ICU.
EIRMC maintains the largest number of patients, and its ICU is nearly full Tuesday evening, according to hospital spokesman Coleen Niemann. However, only 15 of EIRMC’s 28 ICU patients are in for COVID-19.
A complete look at eastern Idaho’s COVID-19 hospitalizations isn’t possible since Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello and several smaller hospitals in southeastern Idaho do not release numbers to the media, and health district information is out-of-date.
For a closer look at the numbers visit the EastIdahoNews.com COVID-19 Page.
The EIPH meets regularly about COVID-19. These meetings include updates from health officials, hospitals, and local leaders. Watch the latest meeting here.
EIPH also has a COVID-19 call center to answer questions. Call (208) 522-0310 or toll-free at (855) 533-3160. The call center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition, questions can be submitted via email to
COVIDQuestions@eiph.idaho.gov or asked through our Facebook page at @EIPH.Idaho.