Idaho governor activates National Guard to combat surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations
Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) on Tuesday said he would be deploying additional National Guard personnel to assist state hospitals overwhelmed by recent surges in COVID-19 cases among unvaccinated communities.
The move comes just two months after the Republican governor announced a timeline for drawing down the state National Guard’s COVID-19 Task Force as the situation had begun to improve.
However, Little said Tuesday that “nearly all Idaho hospitals are overwhelmed with unvaccinated COVID-19 patients,” adding that only four adult ICU beds were currently available in the entire state.
“We are dangerously close to activating statewide crisis standards of care – a historic step that means Idahoans in need of healthcare could receive a lesser standard of care or may be turned away altogether,” Little said. “ In essence, someone would have to decide who can be treated and who cannot.”
“This affects all of us, not just patients with COVID-19,” he added.
As part of the order Tuesday, up to 370 personnel will be deployed across the state, including up to 150 guardsmen to “support short-staffed medical facilities.”
Additionally, 200 medical and administrative personnel will be made available through a contract with the U.S. General Services Administration, and a 20-person Department of Defense medical response team will be sent to North Idaho, which has reported the lowest vaccination rates in the state.
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Idaho governor activates National Guard to combat surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations https://t.co/Fw8RA7THIz pic.twitter.com/LLknSTywAq
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