Elementary students across the Blaine County School District—including these three at Hailey Elementary—returned to the classroom Monday, Feb. 8, for in-person learning four days a week. Since the school year began in September, all students had been splitting their time between in-person an…

Another Blaine County resident has died of COVID-19, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The local death toll is now 15. No further information on the deceased is available at press time Tuesday.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 689 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 statewide over the weekend, raising the total to 165,658. An estimated 86,880 have recovered.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 404 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 statewide today, raising the total to 164,969. Of those, an estimated 85,439 have recovered.

With COVID-19 cases starting to trend downward in Idaho, Blaine County continues to face elevated numbers of cases and risk for the virus.

COVID-19 and quarantine thinned the ranks of the Sun Valley Ski Patrol last month, pulling 13 people—about a fifth of the roster—off the mountains at one point in mid-January, according to emails obtained and verified by the Idaho Mountain Express.

Blaine County officials will hold a virtual town hall to discuss COVID-19 updates on Thursday, Feb. 11. 

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 402 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 statewide today, raising the total to 164,565. Of those, an estimated 84,824 have recovered.

St. Luke’s is continuing to offer its informational Brown Bag Talks in a virtual format, in an effort to keep participants safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 507 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 statewide today, raising the total to 164,163. Of those, an estimated 84,159 have recovered.

The St. Luke’s Health System was flooded with requests on the first day that the list of eligible recipients for COVID-19 vaccinations was expanded to include Idahoans over age 65 on Monday, and quickly filled all available appointments.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 491 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 statewide today, raising the total to 163,656. Of those, an estimated 83,336 have recovered.

Idaho will advance back to Stage 3 of its coronavirus rebound plan, Gov. Brad Little announced Tuesday, meaning maximum gathering sizes statewide will increase from 10 people to 50.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 482 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 on Monday, raising the total since last March to 163,165. Of those, an estimated 82,721 have recovered. In the month of January, Idaho gained 21,606 cases.

The St. Luke’s Health System quickly filled all of the COVID-19 vaccine appointments released on the first day eligible recipients were expanded to include Idahoans over age 65, after the system was flooded with requests.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 635 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 statewide today, raising the total to 162,355. Of those, an estimated 81,034 have recovered.

Elementary school students in the Blaine County School District will return to in-person learning in the second week of February, the district’s board of trustees decided Wednesday night.

Blaine County remained at the overall “critical” risk level for COVID-19 in a new assessment released Thursday, with the rate of new cases increasing from an already elevated level.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 508 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 statewide today, raising the total to 161,720. Of those, an estimated 80,252 have recovered.

Gov. Brad Little signed an executive order Thursday aimed at speeding up the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in Idaho, requiring public health districts and health care providers to submit more detailed reporting on vaccine administration.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 620 new cases of COVID-19 statewide today, raising the total since March to 161,212. Of those, an estimated 79,298 have recovered.

COVID-19 case rates in Blaine County continue to soar, with the number still climbing sharply in the days after it more than doubled during the week of Jan. 10-16.

With bills to lift certain COVID-19 restrictions, limit the power of public health districts and end Idaho’s statewide emergency declaration making their way through the Legislature, Gov. Brad Little on Friday accused state lawmakers of playing “political games” in a pandemic.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 559 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 statewide today, raising the total to 160,592. Of those, an estimated 78,246 have recovered.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported 1,235 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 statewide over the weekend, including 527 today, raising the total to 160,033. Of those, officials continue to monitor an estimated 81,001 active cases.