Idaho makes stage four... just barely
Gov. Brad Little in a June conference call in which he said any future restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will happen on a regional level, rather than statewide. Little said Idaho would enter stage four — the final stage of his Rebound Idaho plan — on Saturday. (Image courtesy AARP Idaho)
The last remnants of Gov. Brad Little’s stay-home order will soon be lifted after he announced the fourth and final phase of his Rebound Idaho plan will begin Saturday.
“All along,” Little said, “our focus has been to protect the health and safety of Idahoans and preserve health care capacity while ensuring a strong economic rebound so that we can restore prosperity we had just months ago. Our collective efforts to abruptly slow the spread of coronavirus back in March and April worked very, very well.”
But Little admitted this decision was harder than prior moves into previous stages, saying that some key metrics gave him real pause.
“I want to stress something very important,” he urged. “We almost did not make it to stage four this week. Despite our incredible progress, there are still some in Idaho who are not practicing measures to keep themselves and others safe. Even if contracting COVID-19 is low on your personal concerns, I urge you to practice safe measures to protect others. Community spread is occurring in more than half of the counties in our state. This isn’t just a Boise and Treasure Valley issue.”
In particular, Little noted the daily average of new cases of COVID-19 among the state’s health care workers as reason for concern. Little said if the number of positive tests per day among health care workers rose above two, that would lead him to consider postponing re-opening the state any further. Over the course of the last week, that number has been exactly two.
“We made it,” Little acknowledged, “but we’re not spiking the football.”
Thursday’s announcement targets four key areas still under restriction in Idaho. Senior assisted living facilities and congregate facilities like jails and prisons will once again accept guests. While the move will open visitation to most correctional facilities immediately starting Saturday, each private assisted living facility will decide on its own exactly when and how to re-open to visitors.
Nightclubs will once again open for dancing and live entertainment. Most nightclubs and dance halls had converted over to a format more closely resembling bars in order to open at the beginning of stage three. Little’s order now allows live music and dancing within those clubs, provided management is able to meet diminished standing-room occupancy requirements.
Public and private gatherings had been limited to 50 people, but Little’s order now lifts restrictions on how many people may attend. Physical distancing and precautionary measures are still needed.
At least 3,260 Idahoans have tested positive for COVID-19 since the virus first arrived, with 85 passing away. The state saw 40 new cases Wednesday. Nationwide, the coronavirus has infected more than 2 million Americans, killing more than 115,000. But in Kootenai County, only 91 have tested positive, with no reported deaths. Little defended both his March 25 stay-home order and the re-opening plan, which has led one of the fastest economic recoveries from the coronavirus in the nation.
“There was no other way to slow the spread of this deadly disease in our state without the actions we took together,” Little said. “The ‘no action’ alternative would have been a catastrophe and ultimately would have led to deeper economic fallout than what we’re experiencing today.”
Stage four will run through June 26, at which point Idahoans will begin to see which health and safety protocols will be eased and which will become part of the state’s new normal. Little has said in past interviews that once all four stages of his plan have been enacted, should community spread of COVID-19 occur, he will consider imposing new restrictions regionally, rather than statewide. On Thursday, he said the health and safety protocols set by the Centers for Disease Control and adopted almost universally by states and municipalities will likely remain as guidelines for Idahoans to follow. While those guidelines will change with new scientific discoveries surrounding COVID-19, Little said that, for now, the best advice is the same Idahoans have been hearing since the beginning of the pandemic.
“The most effective way to mitigate the spread of virus is through our personal actions,” he said. “Practice physical distancing. Wash hands and surfaces regularly. Wear protective face coverings in public where appropriate. And stay home if you’re sick.”