BOISE, Idaho — Idaho Gov. Brad Little took part in a statewide telephone town hall Tuesday to provide information and answer questions about COVID-19 in Idaho.
On Monday, the governor announced that he was rolling the state back to Stage 3 of the Idaho Rebounds plan.
Little said the decision was made due to healthcare facilities facing increased demand and capacity constraints due to COVID-19 statewide.
Effective at 12 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, Stage 3 restrictions were put into place statewide. Those include:
- Indoor gatherings must be limited to 50 people or less
- Outdoor gatherings must remain at 25% capacity or less
- Social distancing guidelines remain in place
- Long-term care facilities must require masks on the premises
- Seating-only at nightclubs, bars and restaurants. Nightclubs can only operate as bars
- Employers are encouraged to continue allowing employees to work remotely or to make special accommodations for in-house employees
Much of Tuesday's meeting was spent on reemphasizing the importance of trying to reducing transmission of the virus.
"We're just trying to best manage this we can as we go into fall. And the big risk areas are people inside more, the flu season starts and kids are back in school," Little said.
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen joined the governor in stressing now more than ever is the time for Idahoans to be vigilant about stay safe in social setting, particularly among groups of people you are familiar with.
"We know face coverings and six feet of space works," Jeppesen said. "We know we are not going to stop transmission, but we know those measures slow down the transmission and don't risk our healthcare capacity. And as we look at the date where current cases are coming from, they're not coming from classrooms, they're not coming from people going to the grocery store. It's really in those social settings, it's sporting events and going to church, the community events."
Another concern now that Idaho has returned to Stage 3 is the pandemic's ongoing impact at long-term care facilities around the state.
Idaho Commission on Aging Administrator Judy Bicknell Taylor was on the call and stressed how important it is right now to support the caregivers.
"No one needs to go it alone, and it helps everyone when caregivers get the support they deserve," Bicknell Taylor said.
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