Thread by @davlinnews

Grim updates from St. Luke's Magic Valley, Cassia, and Minidoka hospitals. Minidoka and Cassia are holding, but have very high positivity rates (30 to 40 percent). St. Luke's Magic Valley has no more room. All are reporting critical staffing shortages. #idahocovid19

Dr. Joshua Kern of St. Lukes MV: "At no point during the pandemic so far have you heard St Luke's crying wolf.... Today is the day." Hospitals are at capacity, hospitalizations are a lagging indicator, and cases continue to rise. Next two weeks could be very bad. #idahocovid19

Administrator from St. Luke's MV is speaking now, saying suggestions and resolutions on masks, as opposed to mandates, aren't working, and puts the burden on frontline workers. "Not making decisions to impose things that we know will work will ultimately shut down the economy."

I'm reposting this because I had an error in the first. Of the 15 counties with the highest 7 day average incidence rates, 14 are in PHDs 5, 6 & 7 -- Magic Valley and east Idaho. Notable that Lewis Co, in Dist 2, was one of the last counties to record a case. #idahocovid19

Tracy Haskin, Minidoka County representative on the BOH, says she thinks the board should listen to the medical experts who are asking for mask mandates and restrictions on group sizes.

Camas County representative Pam Jones says case numbers there dropped after an outbreak at the school prompted a city mask mandate. Says she supports the measures by the district, as Fairfield relies on other cities' hospital systems.

Lincoln County representative Roy Hubert, meanwhile, says people who have contacted him, especially in farming industry and construction, oppose mandates. Wants more education instead. "I agree with the doctors that say (education) evidently isn't working" but still opposes.

Helen Edwards from Gooding County says she isn't sure how much more education they can do at this point. Brent Reinke of Twin Falls County is bringing up enforcement concerns. Law enforcement doesn't have time or interest to enforce, he says.

Linda Montgomery of Jerome echoes the enforcement concerns, while Blaine representative Angenie McCleary says the entire time they've had a mandate, they haven't issued any fines, and says compliance is still high. "Enforcement should not be a barrier," she says.

And the hospital and medical representatives on the call are calling out the misinformation on oxygen levels and mask use.

Bob Kunau of Cassia County (which has the second highest incidence rate in the state right now) says he doesn't support a mandate and doesn't believe the district has that authority. So it's a pretty split board here.

And Brent Reinke is saying that mask education hasn't been a priority for him, so thinks that if more officials like himself post about it on social media, it will make a difference.

There are going to be a few motions. McCleary is first asking the board to write a letter to @GovernorLittle encouraging him to make a statewide mandate on masks and group size. (There's going to be dissent, for sure. Reinke and Hubert again promoting education.) #idahocovid19

Welp. One of the board members is isn't paying attention and is on the phone. The vote is currently split 4-3 and no one can get his attention. Great, cool.

They got his attention. It passed with no votes from Lincoln, Cassia, and Twin Falls Counties. Now on to the mask mandate for the entire district, effective immediately.

Public Health District 5 mask mandate motion fails. Blaine, Camas, Minidoka voted yes, as well as the medical consultant. Jerome, Cassia, Gooding, Twin Falls and Lincoln all voted no. #idahocovid19

In other words, two commissioners want @GovernorLittle to make the masks mandatory for the entire state, but don't want to vote to make masks mandatory in their eight counties. #idahocovid19

A similar conversation is shaking out with a proposed limit on group sizes. They keep saying "Let's see what the governor says."

But we already know. I've lost track of how many times @GovernorLittle has said this is up to local government entities. #idahocovid19 #idpol

The group size motion passed 5-4. One of the commissioners audibly said "Ah crap."

They've also voted to postpone their #idleg meet-and-greet session.

(The group size action limits indoor gatherings of more than 50 people, and have a number of exemptions, including religious services and schools.)

OK. Back at it tomorrow with PHDs 7 & 1. Peace out, my friends.