Entering stage 4

Idaho continues to open and step toward the ‘new normal’

While the vast majority of Idaho businesses and public spaces have opened, a few key refuges from the COVID-19 pandemic have remained closed. That will likely change Saturday, when the fourth and final stage in Gov. Brad Little’s plan to open the state is scheduled to begin June 13.

Little is expected to make the announcement today at a 9 a.m. press conference. The first-term governor has been leading Idaho through the third-fastest re-opening in the country. The state has seen a notable drop in the rate of new cases since the beginning of June; in total, the virus has infected more than 3,200 Idahoans, killing 85. In Kootenai County, 89 people have tested positive, with no fatalities.

“All along, in my view, Idaho has kind of led the nation,” Little said Monday in Coeur d’Alene. “Some of the things they’re talking about doing at the federal level, (Idaho has) really been in the lead. We’re one of the last states with its first case. We’re one of the first states with a staged plan to re-open.”

Here’s how stage four will make its impact both statewide and locally:

Senior living facilities can open to guests

One of the most challenging restrictions the pandemic has imposed on the population has been the inability for residents of senior living facilities to interact in-person with family and other visitors. Because the elderly are part of the vulnerable population most at risk to COVID-19, Little’s Rebound Idaho plan kept senior living centers sealed off from guests since his original stay-home order began in late March.

But just because the state is now permitting people to visit elderly friends and family living in senior living facilities, that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to.

“We’re not opening (to guests) at this time,” said Joann Isaksen, owner and administrator of Maple Wood Assisted Living in Hayden. “It all comes down to the judgment of each facility.”

Not every facility will be ready to open to guests, she said.

Isaksen explained that the state has not yet released its guidelines for how senior living facilities like Maple Wood should proceed, adding it was premature to speculate on when she’d be willing to open until she knows exactly what that entails.

But the minimum protocols practiced since the pandemic began will almost certainly be included in senior living visits: Wear masks, wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, and — most importantly, according to health officials — if you’re exhibiting symptoms of illness, COVID-19 or otherwise, stay home.

Nightclubs can once again open

Stage four was originally scheduled to open to both bars and nightclubs, but Little accelerated his plan to open the state by allowing bars to open with stage three. Nightclubs — with spaces for live music and dancing — had to wait. Come Saturday, the wait is likely over.

In theory, the distinction between bars and nightclubs was slim but still identifiable enough to separate one from the other. In practice, most nightclubs have simply reverted back to bars-only establishments, with many closing off their dance floors and postponing live acts until stage four. This provided the industry to open two weeks early while following state protocols to recover some lost revenue.

While protocols from Little’s office have yet to be released, Katherine Hoyer of Panhandle Health said those protocols will likely follow many of the same rules bars are following since their stage three opening.

“Like with bars, nightclubs will be asked to limit occupancy,” Hoyer said, “not have people sit at a counter, eliminate the use of waiting and standing areas, and sanitize high-contact surfaces regularly.”

Party planners can add to their guest lists

Stage three opened public and private gatherings for crowds up to 50 people, so long as people follow appropriate physical distancing and sanitary measures. Stage four will keep the distancing and sanitation protocols but remove the cap on the number of attendees. For some, this means bigger parties for many. For some businesses, removing the cap will likely have little economic benefit.

“We have a lot of people doing last-minute, on-a-whim weddings,” said Erika Bates of Affordable Elegance Bridal in Coeur d’Alene. “But the bigger weddings? They’re being postponed until next year, because you can’t plan a big wedding in a week.”

Affordable Elegance took a double-hit from the pandemic, as COVID-19 attached during prom season. Still, Bates said she was optimistic for better times ahead.

“We may see some more traffic as the summer opens up,” she said. “The business has actually picked up substantially, even for stage three. Knock on wood, but it’s been nice.”

Community Library Network opens its doors

While the Coeur d’Alene Public Library has opened under new restrictions and limited capacity, most of the other libraries in the area have remained closed to the general public throughout the pandemic, providing only curbside service and computer reservations.

That will change not long after stage four gets implemented. Libraries in Athol, Harrison, Hayden, Pinehurst, Post Falls, Rathdrum and Spirit Lake — as well as the community outreach program’s bookmobile — all expect to open Monday, according to Denna Grangaard, the network’s communications coordinator.

“Oh my gosh, we are so excited to be able to open doors again,” Grangaard said. “We’ve been providing online content, posting videos, offering grab-and-go kits. We’ve been finding ways to keep providing content, but it’s not the same as seeing their faces.”

Expect to see some changes in the libraries to allow for easier social distancing. Grangaard said the network encourages its patrons to wear masks, as staff members will be wearing masks throughout the network, as well.

Though the last of Kootenai County — senior living centers, nightclubs, parties and area libraries — will open to the public in the wake of the pandemic, health officials stress COVID-19 will still be with us, and that opening back up is part of the process to finding a new normal.

“We hope that our community will continue to practice caution and not become too relaxed about the guidance,” Hoyer said. “Opening the economy and slowing the virus doesn’t have to be an either/or. We can do both if everyone does their part to keep each other safe.”