NEWS
Idaho COVID-19 stats ‘headed in a better direction’ By Reader Staff Idaho health officials shared in a press briefing Oct. 19 that while hospitalizations and deaths due to the novel coronavirus remain high across the state, recent data may reveal that the current peak in virus activity could be headed for the downslope. “For the first time since July, things are headed in a better direction,” said Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen, according to reporting by the AP. “It also means that we are not out of the woods yet.” Though case counts are flattening, Elke Shaw-Tulloch, administrator for the Idaho Division of Public Health, told the Idaho Statesman: “While people
in the hospital with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 or in the ICU with confirmed COVID-19 are on the decline, the number of people in the hospital is vastly greater than it was during the winter 2020 peak.” State health officials are continuing to encourage Idahoans to seek vaccination against the virus. According to the Statesman, 86% of the state’s COVID-19 deaths since May 2021 have been among the unvaccinated population. As of Oct. 20, about 54% of those 12 and older in Idaho are completely vaccinated, while the national average sits closer to 67%. In Bonner County, that number is about 46%. What’s more, the Idaho Capital Sun reported that since Idaho hospitals declared crisis stan-
dards of care in early September (meaning that limited resources are reserved for the most dire medical emergencies), vaccine uptake has fallen 56%, from an average of 1,835 to 814 first doses administered per day. Idaho’s Department of Behavioral Health is conducting a survey regarding Idahoans’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Ida-
< JFAC, con’t from Page 5 > rials JFAC members received. The request only appeared on a single line on the 25th page of charts and spreadsheets JFAC members waded through. “We’ll deal with it just like all other supplementals,” Bair told the Idaho Capital Sun after the Oct. 19 meeting. “We’ll consider it and see what happens.” McGeachin did not attend the meeting. Records obtained by the Idaho Capital Sun show a Division of Financial Management analyst did request more information, including copies of invoices, in a September email to McGeachin’s chief of staff. On Oct. 8 Jordan Watters, McGeachin’s chief of staff, responded to the analyst writing invoices are “not currently available.” How to watch the JFAC meetings this week The Oct. 19 meeting was the first of three days worth of hearings for JFAC. Although the Legislature is not in session, committee members use the offseason meetings to get up to speed on the state budget and revenue picture and prepare for budget writing during the upcoming 2022 legislative session that begins
Jan. 10. JFAC members didn’t take any votes or make any decisions on Oct. 19. Instead, the meeting was mostly informational and educational. The final meeting is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 21 in the Lincoln Auditorium, Room WW02 on the Garden Level of the Statehouse. The meeting will be streamed live online, for free, using Idaho Public Television’s Idaho in Session service (idahoptv.org/shows/idahoinsession/ jfac). JFAC is one of the Legislature’s largest committees with 20 members. It includes 10 members each from the Idaho House of Representatives and the Idaho Senate. Overall there are 16 Republicans and four Democrats on the committee. This story was produced by the Idaho Capital Sun, a Boise-based independent, nonprofit online news organization delivering in-depth coverage from veteran Idaho reporters on state government and policy. The Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a national nonprofit funded by tax-free donations in 22 states. Learn more and follow daily updates at idahocapitalsun. com and statesnewsroom.com.
ho Capital Sun, the survey “asks questions about mental health, financial instability, vaccination status, social changes and other pandemic-related issues.” “The pandemic has shifted many aspects of our lives over the past year and a half,” stated Division of Behavioral Health bureau chief Danielle Pere in a media release. “We want to know more about how it has
affected Idahoans so we can help fill gaps and respond more effectively as the pandemic continues.” Access the survey, which is open through Oct. 31, at app.keysurvey.com/ f/41586564/24e3. To stay up-to-date on the most recent vaccination and COVID-19 case data in Idaho, visit coronavirus.idaho.gov.
City sets dates for annual leaf pickup
By Reader Staff The city of Sandpoint’s annual city-wide leaf pickup is scheduled to take place over the course of two weeks this year: Monday, Oct. 25-Friday, Oct. 29 and Monday, Nov. 15-Friday, Nov. 19. Residents are asked to place unbagged leaves in the street next to the curb line by
Courtesy photo. Sunday, Oct. 24 for the first week and by Sunday, Nov. 14 for the second week. Branches and bagged leaves will not be collected and city crews will not be going back for leaves past the scheduled pickup weeks. For more information or questions, city staff can be reached at 208-263-3428. October 21, 2021 /
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