'What lies ahead'

Kootenai Health had four coronavirus patients who were 30 or younger on Wednesday, and two under the age of 40, as it nears capacity with the current COVID-19 surge.

“At the hospital, we are seeing that the delta variant is also leading to more severe illness in a younger population, many of which have few if any risk factors for hospitalization,” a press release said.

On July 28, Kootenai Health had 29 COVID-19 patients with 11 of those patients requiring critical care. On Aug. 4, those numbers were 43 and 19. On Aug. 11, they were 73 and 29, and on Aug. 18, they were 85 and 36.

This past winter, it took 58 days for the surge to climb from 28 patients to 87. This time it took only 21 days, and the numbers continue to escalate.

“It is not our intent to frighten, but rather to inform our community of what lies ahead if the current trajectory continues,” according to the press release.

The Panhandle Health District reported 111 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, and attributed six more deaths to the virus.

In the PHD, there have been 350 deaths attributed to COVID-19, with six of those people under the age of 50, and 294 deaths were people age 70 and older.

Statewide, there were 1,217 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, and 22 COVID deaths, according to the state website.

Kootenai County now has 62,549 people 12 and older, 44% of its population, that have received at least one dose of the vaccine. In the PHD, 81,593 people 12 and older, 38%, are fully vaccinated.

While Idaho Gov. Brad Little has encouraged residents to get vaccinated, he has declined to issue a mandate requiring it of state workers.

Across the border, in Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee announced he is expanding its COVID-19 vaccine mandate to include all public, charter and private school teachers and staff — plus those working at the state's colleges and universities, the Associated Press reported.

There is no weekly testing alternative, and those who are not fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 risk losing their jobs.

Portland Public Schools announced Wednesday workers must submit proof of vaccination by the end of the month.

Last week, California announced a mandate that covers both public and private schools, but allows testing instead of vaccination, AP said.

Earlier this month, Hawaii required all Department of Education staffers to disclose their vaccination status or face weekly testing.

And President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced that his administration will require that nursing home staff be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition for those facilities to continue receiving federal Medicare and Medicaid funding.

Many Idaho health officials have said the vaccine is safe, with minimal side effects.

Kootanai Health, which has not mandated its employees be vaccinated, said data “supports the fact that the COVID-19 delta variant is replicating and spreading much faster than the original COVID-19 alpha variant.

It has canceled elective surgeries and no longer has the capacity to receive patient transfers from other regional hospitals, the release said.

“Hospital leaders and physicians are critically concerned they will not have the space, equipment and staffing to provide care for everyone in our community who needs hospital care,” the release said.

KH said it is asking that people get vaccinated, wear a mask in public, avoid large gatherings, practice social distancing and wash or sanitize their hands frequently.

“Idahoans have always valued freedom and independence,” the release said. “We also recognize the value of working together as a community to take care of our own. Never were those qualities needed more than now.”

It also said if people want continued access to health care and businesses, and for schools to remain open, "every one of us must individually do our part to collectively defeat COVID-19."