Health
White House imposes travel restrictions for Africa amid new COVID-19 variant
WASHINGTON — The White House is set to announce travel restrictions to eight countries in Southern Africa on Monday due to the discovery of a new coronavirus variant, according to senior administration officials. The World Health Organization classified the COVID-19 variant as a “variant of concern” due to its high mutation and transmission rate, and […]
Judges in Idaho can set their own COVID rules again, court says
Following the end of crisis standards of care for most of Idaho, the Idaho Supreme Court will return to allowing local judicial districts to set their own COVID-19 rules, according to an order issued Tuesday. “In light of the improving circumstances … we have concluded that further modification of our safety protocols is now warranted,” […]
Crutches are in low supply. St. Luke’s needs your help.
A missing link in the supply chain is now keeping crutches from reaching the people who need them. “Ongoing supply chain issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic have led to shortages in aluminum,” a St. Luke’s Health System news release said. Do you have new or gently used crutches, especially those made for adults? Here’s […]
A new battle: Idaho’s COVID-19 surge left thousands of patients in need of care
A few weeks after Idaho’s first-ever declaration of crisis standards of care, Gov. Brad Little took a call from Gloria, a woman in Kimberly. “I have a question for you,” she said during a Sept. 28 AARP Idaho telephone town hall. “I got my vaccine. I rolled up my sleeve. I did my civic duty. […]
Idaho out of statewide crisis standards after 67 days; now only in North Idaho
Most of Idaho’s hospitals have returned to semi-normalcy today, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced Monday. Idaho Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen on Nov. 22 announced that Idaho has exited a statewide “crisis standards of care” declaration. However, North Idaho remains under the mass casualty triage framework, due to prolonged surge of […]
Got winter items to donate? Boise nonprofit CATCH wants to hear from you
A local nonprofit that assists individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the Treasure Valley is seeking winter clothes and accessories to give to people in the community, according to a press release. Charitable Assistance to Communities Homeless, or CATCH, said in a news release that it’s asking for donations of: warm hats scarves and gloves […]
‘Backbone of rural America’: One clinic’s efforts to keep health care in Idaho communities
As someone who grew up in Hawaii, one of the most jarring realizations Dr. Marilou Gonzalez had when she started working in rural health care was just how much driving people had to do for basic necessities. Like people who come to her clinic in Plummer but shop for groceries an hour away in Coeur […]
Idaho Legislature adjourns longest session in history without passing any new laws this week
The Idaho Legislature adjourned Wednesday after not passing any new laws during three uneven and sometimes tense days back in session at the Idaho State Capitol. The Idaho House of Representatives and the Idaho Senate voted Wednesday afternoon to adjourn the session “sine die,” using the Latin phrase to signify legislators adjourned without setting a […]
Idaho Senate committee kills three vaccine-related bills
The Senate State Affairs Committee decided not to advance three bills passed by the Idaho House of Representatives on Tuesday, effectively killing the bills until at least the next legislative session in January. The committee met for nearly four hours to hear from bill sponsors and to take testimony from the public on the three […]
Some states forge ahead with COVID-19 booster shots for all adults
WASHINGTON — Federal health officials are expected as soon as Friday to expand access to COVID-19 booster shots to all American adults. But some states aren’t waiting for a green light from D.C. At least six states already have opened up eligibility for the boosters from Pfizer and Moderna beyond the categories specified by federal […]
Breakthrough cases get attention. But how many Idaho COVID cases are reinfections?
Idaho’s public health officials know the coronavirus managed to infect 17,099 fully vaccinated Idahoans since May 15. They know 543 of those Idahoans with “breakthrough” cases were hospitalized, and 226 died. How do they know? Public health analysts can cross-reference COVID-19 case records with immunization records and pinpoint when a person was “fully vaccinated” — […]
House passes seven bills aimed at fighting vaccine, masking or testing requirements
Legislative activity picked up Tuesday as the Idaho House of Representatives passed seven bills aimed at fighting COVID-19 rules from the federal government and employers, or providing exemptions from mandates. The Idaho Senate received five of those bills Tuesday afternoon and referred them to the Senate State Affairs Committee but did not act on them […]