Thread by @davlinnews

Listening in on this. Dr. Nemerson points out that this spike that we're experiencing isn't starting from zero -- we're already at a moderate prevalence of the disease in our community, and rising.

The current test positivity at St. Alphonsus is 12 percent. #idahocovid19

https://twitter.com/SaintAlsHealth/status/1316047939970756610

Joshua Kern, St. Lukes Magic Valley: All counties in the area are simultaneously experiencing an increase in cases right now. More than 40 COVID patients hospitalized at the beginning of the week, which was more than 1/4 of all hospitalized patients there at the time.

That was a record number of COVID patients for St. Lukes Magic Valley.

Meanwhile, hospitalizations are a lagging indicator, and cases aren't going down, Kern says. They're bracing for more.

They also have their first confirmed second infection in an #IdahoCovid19 patient.

They have also seen co-infections of both influenza and COVID, Kern says.

Richard Augustus of West Valley emphasizes that normal holiday social activities are high risk. "Do something creative. Have some fun. But be careful."

Dr. Bramwell: "Sadly, we have had a few dozen cases of COVID that have required hospitalization of COVID locally." Some of those have been MIS-C cases, with one previously healthy teenager flown to another city to await a heart transplant. #IdahoCovid19

Dr. Nemerson on people's rumored ill-advised attempts to get COVID so they can sell their plasma: You're going to be sorely disappointed, as St. Al's partners with the American Red Cross for plasma. The Red Cross doesn't pay donors. (I'm actually donating plasma today!)