Government response
On March 13, 2020, the same day as when the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Idaho was announced, Governor Brad Little stated "We have been preparing for this since January when the first confirmed case of coronavirus was confirmed in the United States, we have taken many proactive steps, and we are in a good position to respond. Our focus is on slowing the spread of coronavirus to protect vulnerable individuals and preserve capacity in our healthcare facilities." [1] The Governor also signed a proactive emergency declaration to enable the Idaho Emergency Operations Plan along with making funds available for use in the Idaho Emergency Disaster Fund. This declaration allows for the flexibility to expedite contracts and purchasing of supplies, aids with obtaining critical supplies from the national stockpile along with adding provisions to expedite renewals of state nursing licenses for those who have retired or left the profession. [18] [19]
On March 17, 2020, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare's Division of Welfare announced that on March 18 they would stop walk-in services in some of their locations and move to appointment and phone-based services. Those locations are Boise (Westgate), Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Lewiston, Nampa, Payette, Pocatello, Preston, and Twin Falls. [20]
On March 22, 2020, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare addressed how COVID-19 cases were counted in the state. The state counts were based on records that are submitted through Idaho's statewide disease tracking system and don't count the cases by the local public health departments that have not been determined through investigations or been submitted to the state. By doing so, the count is that of Idaho residents and not those who might reside in another state. [21]
On March 23, 2020, the Governor Little signed two proclamations with the first "one lifting restrictions in 125 administrative rules to increase healthcare provider capacity and reduce barriers to healthcare access" and the second to extend the state income tax filing and payment deadlines to June 15 for all citizens and businesses in Idaho. [22]
On March 25, 2020, Governor Little issued a statewide stay-at-home order for residents to stay and work from home as much as possible. The order also closed non-essential businesses and banned non-essential gatherings effective on the same day for at least 21 days. [23] Some citizens and officials are challenging the social distancing rules. [24]
On April 15, 2020, Governor Little extended the stay-home order through "at least" April 30, even as protests continued. [25] The amended order further directed residents to wear masks in public, and also mandated that travelers from outside the state self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. It also loosened business closures, allowing some "non-essential" businesses to reopen if they are able to restrict operation to delivery and curbside pickup.
On April 16, 2020, on the podcast "The Jess Fields Show," North Idaho State Rep. Heather Scott complained that the governor's stay-home order is "no different than Nazi Germany" and that the governor was properly nicknamed "Governor Little Hitler" because, in her understanding, "the nonessential workers got put on a train [to a concentration camp]." Her remarks were criticized by local advocates of human rights. [26]
As of July 21, 2020, city mayors in Northern Idaho would not implement a mask mandate. [27]
On May 27, 2021, after Governor Little left the state to attend a Republican Governors' Association conference in Nashville, Tennessee, Lieutenant Governor Janice McGeachin issued an executive order banning state and local governments from implementing mask mandates in government buildings and schools. On his return the following day, Little promptly repealed the order, stating that "[t]aking the earliest opportunity to act solitarily on a highly politicized, polarizing issue without conferring with local jurisdictions, legislators, and the sitting Governor is, simply put, an abuse of power," and that McGeachin had "unilaterally and unlawfully" deprived local officials of the ability to determine public-health policies in their own jurisdictions. [28] Little further noted that McGeachin's order duplicated a proposed bill that failed passage in the state legislature, and that it would have also prevented the state government from developing and enforcing protective measures for social workers conducting home visits with at-risk patients, or for workers in state COVID testing labs. [28] State health officials spoke out in support of a statewide mask mandate, emphasizing the importance of mask-wearing in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in Idaho. [29]
