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Idaho Governor Issues Statewide Stay-At-Home Order

Idaho Governor's office

Idaho Governor Brad Little has issued an order requiring his state’s residents to stay-home whenever possible.

The governor also signed what his office calls an “extreme emergency declaration.” That allows the state to “increase health care capacity, take steps to reduce and slow coronavirus spread, and take rapid and decisive steps to improve the condition of Idahoans whose job and incomes are being harmed by the pandemic,” according to a statement released this afternoon [Wednesday] by his office.
 
“From the get-go, our focus has been to slow the spread of coronavirus to protect our most vulnerable citizens and preserve capacity in our healthcare system,” Little said. “With confirmed community transmission of coronavirus now occurring in Idaho’s most populated areas, we need to take strong measures to ensure our healthcare facilities are not overburdened. I am following the guidance of our public health experts and issuing a statewide stay-home order effective immediately.”
 
The stay-home order requires citizens to stay home, excluding health care, public safety and other essential workers. People are allowed to shop for groceries and visit medical facilities. Restaurants must stop providing dine-in services, but are allowed to provide drive through, pick up and delivery services. Non-essential businesses and services are to close. People are encouraged to avoid public transit unless absolutely necessary and to avoid congregating in groups.
 
“Our health care and public safety workers are putting themselves in harm’s way to respond to the coronavirus emergency, and we owe it to them to do our part by following this statewide stay-home order,” Little said.
 
The statewide stay-home order is effective immediately and will remain in effect for 21 days, when it will be re-evaluated.

Idaho reports 73 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including nine in Kootenai County. It's the only county in north Idaho to have a confirmed case.