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Masks are now required in certain public settings in Ketchum and the unincorporated parts of Blaine County.
A rabid bat was caught in Twin Falls County this week, according to the South Central Public Health District. Now the district is urging residents to take precautions if they see a bat active during the day or see any unusual behavior from bats.
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The Blaine County commissioners on Tuesday passed a resolution to encourage the use of face coverings, opting not to pursue a more aggressive ordinance that would have legally required people to wear masks in public.
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As some states and counties step back towards closure with strict measures to combat recent upticks in COVID-19 cases, Blaine County continues to welcome visitors since entering the phased reopening plan that state officials created, with business owners and local establishments implementing…
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From having had one of the highest concentrations of COVID-19 cases in the United States near the start of the pandemic, Blaine County residents used business closures, social distancing and mask-wearing to achieve 17 separate days of no new cases between May 28 and June 18.
The South Central Public Health District reports young adults to be the highest percentage of people who have been infected with COVID-19 in the district. State statistics show that Idahoans aged 18-29 exhibit the greatest concentration of coronavirus infections.
The South Central Public Health District announced last week that young adults make up the highest percentage of COVID-19 infections in the region, reflecting a broader statewide trend of ages 18-29 showing the highest infection rate.
The full economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic will not be calculated for some time, but in the short term, the toll it has taken on small businesses and nonprofits has been especially destructive.
This week the state government launched a new website that includes public service announcements, safety considerations for businesses across Idaho as they undertake reopening, and a pledge to commit to doing one's part as businesses and residents work together to support a safe and healthy …
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Over a month and a half after Ketchum real estate agent Janine Bear was discharged from the United Christian Hospital in Hong Kong, many of her worst COVID-19 symptoms remain—severe shortness of breath, blinding headaches, body pain.
Despite this year’s primary election taking place entirely by mail, Idaho didn’t see a drop in voter turnout—on the contrary, numbers from the Secretary of State’s Office show more people cast their ballots than usual.
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Facilitators and participants in an antibody study and testing initiative led by the Ketchum Fire Department and the Blaine County Ambulance District began receiving their results roughly one week after being tested. Some were surprised by those results and all who were interviewed for this …
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As Idaho enters into its third phase of reopening—with bars and movie theaters permitted to open beginning May 30—public health districts are warning that a second wave of the novel coronavirus will be inevitable and continue to encourage proper health and safety measures to prevent a danger…
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As cluster testing in areas with high rates of infection takes shape in Idaho, some regions are beginning to see COVID-19 spikes in certain populations, indicating that testing will continue to shed light on the overall impact that the virus has had on Idahoans.
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As life increasingly shifts online amid the COVID-19 pandemic, so too is mental health care, with a growing number of providers offering virtual services via the web.
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Friday, May 22, will be the last day of the screening and specimen collection tent in the parking lot of St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center in Ketchum. Suspected COVID-19 patients will be directed to St. Luke’s Family Medicine Clinic in Hailey beginning Tuesday, May 26.
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As nursing care and assisted-living facilities head toward their third month of isolation from the outside world, the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued a list of reopening recommendations, but tells facilities their doors should open only after a “careful review…
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The new realities of social distancing have caused the nonprofit Higher Ground recreation and habilitation organization to go online with group activities to stay in touch and explore alternate forms of fundraising to serve a total of 736 people in Blaine County, New York and Los Angeles.
Since the outbreak began, the South Central Health District has tracked down every person who has tested positive for COVID-19, along with anyone whom they may have contacted.
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After weeks of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many gyms and fitness facilities will open back up on Monday. But safety protocols implemented to limit the risk of coronavirus transmission under stage two of the state’s reopening guidelines will change the experience—and likely restrict…
As of March 6, Medicare beneficiaries have had access to telehealth services, following a temporary expansion of Medicare telehealth coverage by the Trump administration. The expansion allows for Medicare to temporarily pay clinicians to provide telehealth services due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
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The COVID-19 Response Group suspended its free coronavirus antibody testing project in Ketchum three days after its launch, the group said in a Tuesday statement.
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According to the World Health Organization, 9 million more nurses and midwives will be needed by 2030 to meet the goal of universal health coverage. For that reason, WHO has declared 2020 the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. Particularly now, nurses play a vital role on the f…
The two-week hospital closure in mid-March in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Blaine County left many families and expecting mothers confused about where to go for care, such as maintaining their children’s vaccine schedule and giving birth.
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Blaine County added seven new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, bringing the local total to 496 lab-confirmed and 10 probable cases of the coronavirus as of 5:17 p.m. on Monday. But, lately, a southern neighbor has taken over as the health district’s hot-spot. Plus, St. Luke’s makes a big …
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Nearly two weeks after being discharged from the intensive-care unit at St. Luke’s hospital in Boise, Hailey nurse Jesse Vanderhoof continues to make daily strides in his recovery from COVID-19. But coming out of a medically induced coma hasn’t been an easy walk in the park, Jesse and his…
As testing becomes more streamlined, with new equipment allowing for faster turnaround and large quantities of samples being tested on a daily basis, questions remain about the accuracy of COVID-19 testing and what questions antibody testing can answer.
Ventilators are useless without a certified respiratory therapist to run them.
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Allen & Co., the boutique investment firm that holds its annual conference in Sun Valley each summer, has donated $1 million to St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation as Blaine County battles one of the highest COVID-19 infection rates in the U.S.
There were 179 babies born at St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center last year, but for the time being, expecting local mothers will be sent elsewhere for deliveries.
Every day since the COVID-19 pandemic made its appearance in the Wood River Valley, Erin Pfaeffle, director of community engagement for St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center, has sent out daily emails of support and encouragement to hospital staff.
Beyond concerns over community spread of coronavirus, pet owners have raised questions about whether their dogs and cats can be carriers of the virus and spread it to others.
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This chart will be updated as new numbers are released.
The Advocates CEO Tricia Swartling said Wednesday that there are some COVID-19 cases within the organization’s client base, and it is prepared to serve them as they recover.
Schools across the Wood River Valley are temporarily closing their doors after cases of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, were confirmed in Blaine County over the weekend.
Friedman Memorial Airport saw a net positive flow of people enter the valley over the weekend, with seat map data showing inbound flights from the West Coast fuller than their outbound counterparts.
No new cases of coronavirus were confirmed on Monday as local governments continue to respond—and other organizations continue to close—in the face of the outbreak. Here’s a look at the top stories from Monday, March 16.
Sun Valley shuts down Baldy after second Blaine County case is confirmed. Here’s a look at the major stories from Sunday, March 15.
Blaine County commissioners will consider declaring a state of emergency over coronavirus at their regular meeting next week.
The Meadows trailer park south of Ketchum was on notice for about 20 hours early this week to not drink household water without boiling it for at least a minute to avoid possible contamination.
The American Red Cross is urging healthy, eligible people to give blood or platelets now to prevent a blood shortage that could result in low donor participation.
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Residents at The Meadows trailer park south of Ketchum are on notice not to drink household water without boiling it first for at least one minute to avoid possible contamination.
About 25 researchers, biochemists, oncologists, pathologists and other specialists gathered on Thursday night at the Sun Valley Inn to discuss the breakthroughs being made in the field of breast cancer research.
Idaho’s South Central Public Health District has opened an informational hotline for those with concerns about the novel coronavirus, the district announced Friday.
The South Central Public Health District has opened nominations for the 2020 Health Heroes, for members or an organization in the community going the extra mile to keep residents healthy.
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Though no coronavirus (COVID-19) cases have yet been announced in Idaho, school and health systems across Blaine County are preparing for a potential community-level outbreak amid a worldwide pandemic that has so far resulted in over 3,250 deaths.
Idaho is experiencing low flu activity in comparison to the rest of the country, according to an update this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, this year’s outpatient visits for influenza-like illness are down in comparison to the same week in 2017-18 and …
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The Hunger Coalition announced this week its $10 million plan to build a new facility, expand its food assistance programs and fund an endowment for its future success.
A bill aimed at helping a local ambulance district cover its costs has passed the Idaho House of Representatives.
The South Central Public Health District continues to monitor for cases of COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, as the virus continues to spread around the world. No cases have been reported in Idaho, and as of Friday, there have been 14 cases nationwide, according to the Centers for Di…
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Elkhorn residents Richard and Marcia Morgan were stuck in Phnom Pen, Cambodia, on Monday after disembarking from the cruise ship Westerdam on Valentine’s Day.
A District 26 lawmaker has introduced a bill aimed at helping a local ambulance district make ends meet.
As of Feb. 1, St. Luke’s Health System is under a new CEO and president.
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