GRANGEVILLE – As of 3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 2, Syringa Hospital has sent out 22 COVID-19 tests thus far and 12 have been returned from the laboratory -- all negative.

(April 2, 2:30 p.m.) Gov. Brad Little announced today the suspension of an additional 18 regulations to more quickly, efficiently, and safely respond to Idaho's coronavirus emergency, adding to the 125 regulations he suspended in March.

We'll update this "situation report" in the morning, in the evening, and other times as we see as necessary each day, until COVID-19 becomes a thing of the past. Click through and read on: This is your local portal to the local news.

(April 1, 1:30 p.m.) Secretary of State Lawerence Denney will hold a press conference today at 4 p.m. MST in the Lincoln Auditorium of the Capitol building to answer questions on Governor Brad Little’s latest proclamation detailing how the primary election will be carried out.

(April 1, 1:15 p.m.) Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit payments will continue to be paid on time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(April 1, 12:45 p.m.) Public Health – Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in Latah County. There are now 12 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in North Central Idaho.

GRANGEVILLE – As of Wednesday, April 1, 10:30 a.m., Syringa Hospital has sent out 18 COVID-19 tests. Of those, nine have returned, all negative.

GRANGEVILLE -- Effective April 1, the Syringa Primary Care Clinic will offer services in two separate locations to reduce exposure of contagious disease.

St. Mary's Hospital and Clinics received its first confirmed COVID-19 case late in the day on March 31, bringing the count of confirmed cases in Idaho County to two.

Public Health – Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) has confirmed a second case of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in Idaho County. There are now eleven confirmed cases of COVID-19 in north central Idaho.

GRANGEVILLE -- Handle it online or on the phone: Public business will see much less face time at the Idaho County Courthouse, which closed the Grangeville facility last week in the wake of Governor Brad Little’s statewide 21-day stay-at-home declaration March 25, due to the coronavirus.

BOISE – Idaho workers laid off due to the coronavirus filed 13,341 new claims for unemployment insurance benefits during the week of March 15-21, up 12,310 for a 1,200 percent increase over the previous week.

GRANGEVILLE – Syringa Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Alex Frei reported at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, the number of COVID-19 tests so far sent out by the hospital is 18. Of those, eight have been returned to the hospital and all are negative.

(March 31, 3:40 p.m.) BOISE -- The United States District and Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Idaho announce the federal courthouses in Idaho will be closed through April 15, in compliance with Governor Little’s “stay-in-place” order.

LEWISTON – Several events associated with the 36th annual Dogwood Festival in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley have been rescheduled for later this year, organizers have announced. The rescheduled dates are pending further COVID-19 restrictions.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IHSAA is announcing the mandatory suspension/postponement of activities, will continue through April 20. This date aligns with the recommendations from the Idaho State Board of Education's "soft closure" of schools. The IHSAA will continue to monitor…

As of press time, city halls have been closed to public access at Ferdinand, Grangeville, Kooskia, Riggins and White Bird, due to concerns for spread of coronavirus.

In light of the current ongoing pandemic, there have been many recent life altering changes that have caused an increase in stress for all of us, including the concept of social distancing. Day in and day out, we hear ever changing information about COVID-19, and how it is affecting our comm…

“As a result of confirmed communal cases in Idaho County and the school district closures, we are taking increased precautions at St. Mary’s and Clearwater Valley Hospitals & Clinics to protect staff and patients in regards to COVID-19,” says Steve Frei, Director of Ancillary Services, S…

BOISE -- Last Friday, March 27, Governor Brad Little announced additional executive measures to assist Idaho’s response to the 2019 novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. Through executive order, he is directing a $39.3 million transfer from the Tax Relief Fund to the Disaster Emergency Account.

(March 30, 3:25 p.m.) Attorney General Lawrence Wasden is alerting Idaho residents to COVID-19 scams occurring as a result of the global Coronavirus pandemic. These scams focus on multiple areas of consumer vulnerability in an attempt to capitalize on fears resulting from the pandemic.

(March 30, 3 p.m.) BOISE – Governor Brad Little and Secretary of State Lawerence Denney announced today there will be no change in Idaho’s primary election date of May 19.

(March 30, 3:15 p.m.) Idaho is one of several states across the nation where the surge of newly laid-off workers is overwhelming state unemployment phone systems.

(March 30, 3:05 p.m.) LEWISTON – Public Health – Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) has announced the five newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in Nez Perce County. There are now 10 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in North Central Idaho.

(March 30, 2:55 p.m.) Portland, Ore. – The USDA Forest Service is pausing all spring prescribed fire efforts on national forest lands across the states of Oregon and Washington.

Idahoans can continue to recreate under Covid-19 restrictions, but they should take precautions and follow guidelines.

(March 30, noon) LEWISTON – Lewis-Clark State College is actively recruiting students for the 2020 fall semester through a variety of virtual opportunities while implementing plans to help minimize the spread of COVID-19, the coronavirus. Students interested in enrolling next fall, including…

IDAHO COUNTY – Parents across the nation got creative recently in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak to entertain their children while maintaining social distancing.

(March 30, 11:25 a.m.)

GRANGEVILLE - As of 10 a.m. Monday, March 30, Syringa Hospital has sent out 14 COVID-19 (coronavirus) tests. Of those, eight have come back, all of which have been negative.

Access to the Idaho careline is changing because of the Idaho’s COVID-19 response. Calls are no longer handled by a live agent. Note the following options that are available when a person calls the Idaho careline. To access an agent for a referral to Navigation, press 0.

(March 30, 9:40 a.m.) To protect the health and safety of Forest staff, partners, and volunteers, all restrooms facilities on the Payette National Forest are no longer being stocked or maintained. The forest strongly recommends visitors not use Forest restrooms to help prevent the spread of …

RIGGINS - The Salmon River Cowboys Association Inc. said they would like to contribute efforts to do everything possible to slow and halt the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, they have decided to cancel the May 2020 Riggins Rodeo, an event that has been supporting its community for near…

GRANGEVILLE – As of Friday, March 27, Syringa Hospital has sent out 12 COVID-19 tests, of which three have come back, all negative.

(March 27, 4:25) The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) has announced a new toll-free number for Idahoans to call with questions about COVID-19 or the Statewide Stay-Home Order. The number, 1-888-330-3010, will be staffed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The number will be i…

(March 27, 4:10 p.m.) BOISE -- Early Friday afternoon Idaho Secretary of State Lawerence Denney delivered a formal request to Governor Brad Little to delay the May 19 Primary Election and to close all polling locations for the same.

(March 27, 1:55 p.m.) Public Health – Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) has confirmed the first death associated with COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in Nez Perce County.

(March 27, 1:35 p.m.) Effective March 28, all developed campgrounds and certain other recreation sites on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests have been closed indefinitely for the health and safety of visitors and staff. A full list of restricted areas is available online at www.fs.usd…

(MARCH 27, noon)

(9:30 a.m. March 27) The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), and Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) remind the public to refrain from all nonessential open burning activities as communities respond to the spread of the novel coronavirus…

GRANGEVILLE — Beginning Friday, March 27, the City of Grangeville will be closing playgrounds in all city parks, the skate park, baseball fields and basketball courts to mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

(5 p.m. March 26) GRANGEVILLE – Focusing on the well-being of staff and community and in response to Governor Little’s stay at home order, the Grangeville office of Community Action Partnership (CAP) will be closed March 26-April 15. CAP will not be providing services out of this office; how…

GRANGEVILLE -- The Camas Prairie Food Bank is open for curbside pick-up.

GRANGEVILLE -- Central Idaho Art Association has decided to cancel its 53rd Spring Art Show set for April 22, 23, 24 and 25, due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) threat and the State of Idaho shutdown.