COVID-19 Update: August 27, 2021

Hospitals throughout the state continue to see record-breaking numbers of COVID-19 patients, many of whom are ending up in the intensive care units. Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene has converted a classroom to a patient care space, and could request the state to declare crisis standards of care within the next few days. Crisis standards of care are declared by the state only when a region’s healthcare system is depleted to the point where it cannot transfer patients elsewhere, nor can it provide healthcare services at a normal level. Other hospitals throughout Idaho say they may hit that point in the next couple of weeks. Nearly every ICU patient in Idaho is unvaccinated. Statewide, just 0.4 percent of vaccinated people have reported breakthrough cases, according to data from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Currently, the highest seven-day rolling average case rates are in north central Idaho and Magic Valley. The statewide test positivity rate has risen to 13.2 percent, the highest it’s been since January. If you missed our live Idaho Reports special on the state’s hospital crisis, you can catch it online at www.idahoptv.org/idahoreports. Our next special airs Thursday, September 9th at 8pm on Idaho Public Television.