This week, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare deactivated crisis standards of care for six of Idaho’s seven health districts, thanks to decreasing hospitalizations and test positivity rates. Only the Panhandle Health District remains under crisis standards of care, due to a large number of cases and hospitalizations, particularly in Bonner County.

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen said hospitals are still stressed, and most are working under contingency standards of care. Jeppesen urged Idahoans to continue wearing masks in crowded indoor settings and to choose to get vaccinated.

Currently, Benewah, Bonner, Lincoln, Butte, and Clark counties have the highest seven day rolling average case rates. COVID hospitalizations and ICU admissions are now at the same levels they were in early August.

Fifty nine percent of Idahoans ages 18 and older are fully vaccinated. About 15,000 Idaho children ages 5-11 have now received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.