Yesterday, Gov. Brad Little announced that Idaho will enter Stage 4 of the Idaho Rebounds Plan to safely and responsibly open the economy in stages. However, it’s important to note that Idaho barely met the criteria established by our state’s public health team, so it is more important than ever to follow recommended precautions so we can keep Idaho open.
- Keep at least six feet between you and others in public.
- Wear face coverings in public places (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.)
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Wash your hands often.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Disinfect surfaces and objects regularly.
On Saturday, 100 percent of businesses will be able to open their doors as we enter Stage 4 of our Idaho Rebounds plan. That means:
- Visits to senior living facilities and other congregate facilities can resume, under strict protocols to protect residents and workers.
- Nightclubs may operate with precautionary measures in place.
- Large venues such as sporting events can operate under protocols, including physical distancing.
- Employers can resume unrestricted staffing but should continue to practice physical distancing and sanitation, including the use of teleworking where practical. Special accommodations for individuals at higher risk for severe illness should be made.
- Travel can continue to locations that have no ongoing virus transmission.
- Gatherings of any size can occur as long as physical distancing and precautionary measures can occur.
Additional detail is available at https://rebound.idaho.gov/stages-of-reopening/. There are also protocols available to help all businesses reopen.
We are ONE Idaho
Idaho has launched ONE Idaho, an initiative to highlight the resilience and adaptability of Idaho businesses, employees, and customers. The promise of this initiative is: “We are stronger together. We are one Idaho.” I hope that resonates with you as it does with me.
As Gov. Little said, “Health and the economy are linked. Our economic rebound cannot occur without sufficient healthcare capacity, a healthy population, and consumer and employee confidence.”
I want to you thank you all for your commitment to keeping the economy moving forward by keeping all Idahoans safe.
Details about the ONE Idaho initiative can be found at one.idaho.gov/.
Idahoans can show their support for an open, safe, and healthy state by taking the ONE Idaho Pledge, committing to do their part as a business owner, employee, or consumer.
I have already pledged my commitment. I hope you do, too.
Crush the Curve Idaho Essay Contest
DHW is happy to be partnering with Crush the Curve for the Summer Essay Contest. Writing is a great way to help kids better understand COVID-19 and what a pandemic is in an age-appropriate way. Please visit https://crushthecurveidaho.com/essay-contest for more information. I appreciate Crush the Curve’s commitment to education and support of the children and teachers in Idaho.
This weekend will be the first weekend in months that everything is open in Idaho. I hope you have a safe, happy, and healthy weekend.
DHW Voice 
I am referring to the CDA Press, 7/15/20 Guest Opinion article on visitation at hospitals, memory clinics and nursing homes. My husband, James Mangan, became septic and not lucid after a lithotripsy procedure for a 3cm stalagmite kidney stone on 5/27/20. I returned with James to the ER 3X and was unable to go in and be his advocate. A person who has sepsis is not aware of their surroundings, much less able to coherently answer questions. He was not admitted and I did not speak to a physician. James was so septic on the 4th return to the ER that he spent a week in ICU and as of now, has lost kidney function and is on dialysis. Since 5/27/20 ( a total of 51 days), I have only been able to be with my husband 10 days, 5 of those when he was in a coma. James is now in a step down hospital and with this return of stage 4 lock down, I have been unable to be with him.
I agree with Mr. Passaro’s article, in that the requirements for visitation to family members is (arbitrary-my words), gutless and not well thought out. If a nurse that leaves work, goes home to her community, can return, take her temp, wear a mask and wash her hands, then see multiple patients; then why am I not allowed to wear a mask, have my temp taken, wash my hands and stay in one room with my husband. As Mr. Passaro states “how can we be assured that staff is any safer than a designated family member from infecting the facility”.
I believe that if I had been able to be with my septic husband and be his advocate, he would not be losing his kidneys and on dialysis forever. That this extensive cost to the insurance and us would not have occurred.
The emotional impact of isolation on patients and family have .as of now, undocumented costs in all realms of health, mental, social, spiritual, psychological and physical.
I too would be happy to be on any board to figure out a better way to protect the fragile in our community other than total isolation that is detrimental to all.
I would say that if this were Anthrax, Ebola, Smallpox, Typhus, Dysentery or the Plague we would be having an entirely different conversation.
Thank you for you time and I look forward to hearing your comments.
Julia Mangan, MSN, ARNP (Ret)