Idaho adopts stricter guidelines to limit coronavirus spread

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho Gov. Brad Little on Wednesday announced stricter guidelines for social interactions to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

The Republican governor said the state was adopting federal guidelines that include avoiding social gatherings of more than 10 people. The guidelines also call for not eating or drinking in bars, restaurants and food courts, but to use drive-thru or pickup options. Little also recommended avoiding discretionary travel and shopping.

The goal, he said, is to slow the spread so that healthcare facilities aren't overwhelmed and to protect the elderly and people with health conditions, who are more susceptible.

“First and foremost, I have to keep everybody healthy to the extent that I can,” Little said at a news conference. “So I need to minimize the risks now.”

Little declared an emergency on Friday because of the coronavirus, when there were no cases in the state. Health officials say nine people have now tested positive and that two are hospitalized.

State epidemiologist Christine Hahn said they didn't know if any of the nine cases involved community spread, a serious escalation in that it would mean someone hadn't traveled out of their community and didn't know how they came in contact with the virus.

She also said it was difficult to predict how many people might fall ill.

Little said mandatory measures could eventually be put in place, depending on the extent of the virus outbreak. But he said a rural state like Idaho had different circumstances than more populated and urban states where such restrictions have been enacted.

“These variables change,” he said. “What we need to do will change. We have the benefit of learning from other countries and other states.”

Little said the state was also looking at expanding the ability of healthcare facilities to take more patients. Part of that involved bringing healthcare workers out of retirement and expediting licensing requirements.

He acknowledged the state was not where it should be on some fronts.

“Right now, our issue is supplies and testing capacity,” he said, noting not everyone who wants to be tested can be tested. “We're working diligently to address both of those issues.”

The state on its website said only about 350 people had been tested, and health officials were restricting tests. But officials have also said that commercial testing is becoming more available.

Little said he was so far pleased with how people have mostly, except for instances of hoarding of supplies such as toilet paper, reacted.

“I'm concerned about the stress level," he said. "I'm concerned about these people being at home. I'm concerned about people being off work. Given the magnitude of this issue, I think, for the most part, most Idahoans understand that we're in this together.”

For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover within a few weeks.