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‘The overall trend is bad’: This is what COVID-19 is doing to Idaho hospitals
Patients treated in emergency rooms. Small community hospitals calling around for a place to send their critically ill patients. Nurses so burned out that hospitals offer them cash to take extra shifts. And a delta-fueled COVID-19 fire raging out of control from coast to coast. Idaho has entered a fourth surge in the coronavirus pandemic. […]
Micron will require COVID vaccination for new hires, starting Monday
One of Idaho’s largest employers wants its entire workforce to be vaccinated against COVID-19. That’s why, starting Monday, “all new hires in the U.S. will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination prior to starting work at Micron,” the company told the Idaho Capital Sun in an email. Current Micron employees who don’t get […]
A COVID-19 patient in Oklahoma needed a bed. The closest one was in Boise.
The latest COVID-19 surge is different from the last, and it’s much more dangerous, a local hospital executive said Thursday. “The overall trend is bad. It’s looking worse than the December, January surge” of COVID-19, said Dr. Jim Souza, St. Luke’s chief physician executive. Indeed, the number of COVID-19 patients statewide in the hospital, and […]
‘This is very, very serious’: Little urges vaccinations to keep students in classrooms this fall
Amid a surge of cases of COVID-19 across Idaho and school starting in some districts next week, Gov. Brad Little held a press conference Thursday to urge Idahoans to get vaccinated so students can attend school in person this year. Little is also making $30 million in federal dollars available to school districts to step […]
More vaccinated Idahoans got COVID-19 in July as delta variant spread. Here’s what to know.
The delta variant is burning through Idaho, spiking the state’s COVID-19 infection rates and sending more people to the hospital. Some of those cases are among people who were fully vaccinated from the coronavirus. Idaho has reported 1,455 such “breakthrough cases” this year. More than half of them — 757 — were people who tested […]
Ada County commissioners postpone their decision on health board candidate
Ada County commissioners are delaying their choice on a nominee to be the only doctor on the Central District Health board. They voted Tuesday to table the discussion until Aug. 17. The public health district’s board has power over the agency’s leadership and budget. It also can issue public health orders. Central District Health oversees […]
Ada County doctor interviews: ‘Two sides of the coin’ on public health
Three local doctors had 30 minutes each to sell themselves as the best choice to join the Central District Health board during a series of interviews Monday before the Ada County Board of County Commissioners. Commissioners Rod Beck, Ryan Davidson and Kendra Kenyon will vote Tuesday on their nominee for the position — the only […]
‘I don’t recognize myself’: Idaho long haulers one year after COVID
Travis Smith loaded up Facebook to write an anniversary post. “One year ago today, my life changed,” he wrote July 25. “This was the last picture I took before (realizing) I contracted COVID. I didn’t know I had worked my last shift for 2 months. I was exposed at work and had no idea.” Smith […]
‘Permademic,’ ‘radical agendas’: Residents cite politics to support health board candidates
Dozens of health care workers wrote in to support one candidate for Ada County’s public health board. Then, prompted by Idaho political groups, hundreds of Ada County residents — and some from outside the county — wrote in to support a different candidate. The public comments submitted as of Wednesday to Ada County’s three commissioners […]
Experts will answer Idahoans’ questions about Alzheimer’s, dementia care
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America will host a free virtual Alzheimer’s educational conference for Idaho residents from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) on Aug. 17. The event will include health, caregiving and legal experts. It is open to older Idahoans, families affected by Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, caregivers or anyone else with an […]
Idaho kids are getting COVID. Adults can protect them, state officials say.
With the first day of school now on the horizon, Idaho Gov. Brad Little and state public health officials urged Idaho adults and adolescents to get vaccinated — if not for themselves, for young children who can’t get a COVID-19 vaccine. “With the new school year upon us, we should renew our commitment to our […]
Idaho’s COVID-19 vaccination rate is picking up again. We ran the numbers.
Public health officials have been urging Idahoans for months to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Their pleas went mostly unheeded this summer. That is, until now. With a highly infectious Delta variant circulating in Idaho, and with cases and hospitalizations climbing, more Idahoans are choosing to get a COVID-19 vaccine. An Idaho Capital Sun analysis of […]