![]() ![]() We want those kids in class.ĬHANG: That is Republican Gov. ![]() But these kids that are behind - that is - we've got a constitutional obligation to help them. That's not our preferred because, you know, the students that are fortunate enough to have parents at home, have tutors, whatever. If we've got areas - we just - the state board of education sent out guidance to local school districts that if we want kids back in school this fall - but if we have a significant increase, if we're worried about critical health care capacity, it'll be, you know, an increase in - whether it's part online, part off or, you know, our last result would be that everybody's online. I mean, if cases continue to rise at the rate that they are rising now in your state, will you rethink your plan to reopen schools this fall? They're self-isolating - is totally different than any instance to where we don't know where it's coming from.ĬHANG: Let's turn to schools now. Is it somebody that came from somewhere else? We've done the tracing. LITTLE: Well, some of the spread - some of the statistics are we got a 50% increase 'cause we had one case, and now we have two. I mean, three dozen Idaho counties are seeing community spread, so it's hard to say that the virus will definitely be contained in certain counties and not in others. I'm a little worried about mask fatigue, particularly if you're in an area where there's no cases.ĬHANG: Well, the virus doesn't stop at county boundaries. LITTLE: Well, if you're in a county with zero positives and zero cases, why would you do that? At some point in time, you may need to do that. But the mask mandates have been on a regional basis so far, and we're hopeful.ĬHANG: And why is that? Why not do a statewide mandate? LITTLE: I've said, never say never and never say always. One thing that hospital officials in Idaho are saying is that a statewide mask mandate would be helpful. And in fact, some of our numbers have started to come down - just the recent numbers the last couple days.ĬHANG: Well, let's turn to the issue of masks. We don't believe there's - you know, on the horizon there's any need to send people out of state. Our hospital capacity in the one area where we've already dialed it back is one of the most critical areas. LITTLE: We don't believe that's going to be the case. So are you concerned about hospital capacity now and the possibility that you may have to send patients out of state, like Arizona has, for example? Hospitalizations have doubled in the last two weeks, and hospital leaders in your state are saying they're really concerned about not having enough staff. Obviously, red means they've got to do something because it's all about preserving critical health care capacity.ĬHANG: Well, let's talk about that capacity. And they've set in protocols that if positivity numbers get to a certain percent, then they will go, like a lot of other states, from green to orange to red. Two other health districts are having serious considerations about it right now. We have seven health districts in the state, and one of the health districts has already done that. LITTLE: No, it'll be - well, it can be by city or - with - under state law, it can be by city or health district. They're not what we'd like.ĬHANG: But you're not in any way planning to scale back the statewide reopening. ![]() So we basically laddered up to a four-stage plan, and we're stuck in stage four because our numbers aren't great. And other health districts and other communities are also doing the same. And they have dialed back nightclubs, bars, large events. But the area of the hot spot is Ada County, where Boise is. I've got some counties where there's not one confirmed case. LITTLE: Well, statewide, I've still got counties where there's zero positivity. At what point - let me ask you - might you consider scaling back your statewide reopening just as Texas, for example, has done? ![]() Brad Little.ĬHANG: So as we've just said, Idaho's spike is not showing any signs of slowing down. Here to discuss how the state is responding to the pandemic is Idaho's Republican Gov. But the state has stuck to its final stage of reopening, with indoor dining still allowed and bars and nightclubs still open in many parts of the state. Idaho's daily case rate is five times higher than it was just a month ago. COVID-19 cases are now rising in nearly every state, but few states are seeing as steep of a climb as Idaho is seeing right now. ![]()
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