STORY BY KAREN BOSSICK
PHOTOS BY JIM KELLER AND SUSAN GIANNETTINO
Yikes!!!!! And double yikes!!!!
Every day the state of Idaho seems to post a new high in the number of new coronavirus cases.
And that happened again on Saturday.
The state posted 577 new cases, well over the previous high of 500 on Thursday. And it topped 10,000 total cases, with 10,505 cases now reported since the first was reported March 13.
The state had just 3,220 cases a mere month ago.
There was one new death—this one in Canyon County The state has lost 102 residents to COVID-19.
Hospitalizations have also ramped up with 768 people hospitalized on Saturday—up from 449 on Friday. The number of recoveries stands at 3,114.
Blaine County reported one new case on Saturday, bringing its total to 549.
The vast majority of new cases continue to erupt in the Treasure Valley in southwest Idaho and the Magic Valley. Ada County reported 218 new cases on Saturday and Canyon County, 39. Jerome County reported 36; Minidoka County, 29 and Twin Falls County, 104.
SCREAMING NOT PERMITTED
Screaming on roller coasters has been banned at Japanese theme parks because it spreads coronavirus. Riders are being advised to “scream inside your heart,” according to the Wall Street Journal.
AMERICANS TRAVEL-HAPPY
Americans took more long trips during the week preceding the July 4 holiday than they did in 2019.
Americans made 32.2 million trips of 50-plus miles, according to CNN, versus 31.9 million long trips in 2019. The study was prepared by the Maryland Transportation Institute for the federal government using anonymized cell phone location data.
VACCINES MULTIPLY
There are now 160 vaccines in various stages of trial. Fingers crossed.
WEARING SWEATPANTS CUTS INTO THE JEAN MARKET
The San Francisco-based Levi’s is cutting 15 percent of its corporate workforce to make up for losses incurred when everyone was staying home wearing their sweatpants. The company says sales are now 80 percent of what they were a year ago.
LYSOL DOES PROVE GOOD FOR SOMETHING
The Environmental Protection Agency has approved Lysol Disinfectant Spray to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on hard, non-porous surfaces. Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mix can kill the virus in under two minutes, according to the EPA.