© 2024 Boise State Public Radio
NPR in Idaho
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Click here for information on transmitter status in the Treasure and Magic Valleys

Health department deactivates crisis standards of care in Idaho

A nurse in scrubs dons PPE
Gustavo Sagrero
/
Boise State Public Radio
A nurse at North Canyon Medical Center dons PPE before going into the room of a COVID-19 patient.

Crisis Standards of Care were deactivated in Idaho Tuesday following improvements in health care staffing challenges and a blood supply shortage.

The rationing guidelines had been in place for three public health districts in southern Idaho — Southwest District Health, Central District Health and South Central District Health — for less than one month.

"Even though things are improving, the number of COVID-19 cases statewide and the testing percent positivity is still very high," said Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen in a press release. "Please continue to take the recommended precautions and get vaccinated and boosted, wear a mask in public, and stay home if you feel sick so those numbers keep trending in the right direction."

Jeppesen said the statewide positivity rate is 25% in a Tuesday media briefing, which is higher than at any point during last fall.

He said many health care systems around the state are in "contingency" standards, one level below "crisis." That means they're managing patient loads but are not quite back to normal operations.

Find reporter Rachel Cohen on Twitter @racheld_cohen

Copyright 2022 Boise State Public Radio

I cover environmental issues, outdoor recreation and local news for Boise State Public Radio. Beyond reporting, I contribute to the station’s digital strategy efforts and enjoy thinking about how our work can best reach and serve our audience. The best part of my job is that I get to learn something new almost every day.

You make stories like this possible.

The biggest portion of Boise State Public Radio's funding comes from readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

Your donation today helps make our local reporting free for our entire community.