Idaho lifts limit on gatherings, cites ample hospital space
REBECCA BOONE, Associated Press
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BOISE, Idaho (AP) Idaho is moving into a new stage of Gov. Brad Little s coronavirus reopening plans and lifting restrictions on the size of gatherings.
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen made the announcement Tuesday, noting that the state s health care system isn t strained and plenty of vaccine is available for interested residents.
“Eighty-three percent of hospitals are operating as normal and there s no hospital in the state that has a resource limitation going on,” Jeppesen said during a news conference.
In November and December, some Idaho hospitals were intermittently turning away people or sending them elsewhere because they didn t have enough healthy staffers or available beds to admit them.
Idaho Dept. of Health and Welfare announces Idaho will move to Stage 4 during biweekly meeting
IDHW director Dave Jeppesen announced the state will move into Stage 4 due to declining hospitalization rates. Under Stage 4, gatherings of any size can be held. Author: Celina Van Hyning (KTVB) Published: 12:58 PM PDT May 11, 2021 Updated: 3:14 PM PDT May 11, 2021
BOISE, Idaho The Idaho Dept. of Health and Welfare (IDHW) announced Idaho will move from the modified Stage 3 to Stage 4 of the Idaho Rebound plan during its biweekly meeting regarding COVID-19 in Idaho.
Under Stage 4, Idahoans will be able to hold gatherings of any size, according to IDHW Director Dave Jeppesen. Additionally:
In a sign that Idaho has more COVID-19 vaccines than residents who want them, state public health officials will no longer recommend that providers ask people to prove they live or work in-state to be inoculated.
The change is effective immediately, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen told reporters in virtual news conference Tuesday.
The residency requirement âwas put in place at a time when demand for the COVID-19 vaccine in Idaho far exceeded supply. However, our situation has changed,â Jeppesen said.
To ensure vaccines are getting into arms, the state is attempting to boost vaccine access by expanding public resources. Those efforts include:
Idaho public health officials say they’re nearing the point where the supply of Covid vaccine will be greater than the demand. “We are concerned that we