COVID-19 Update: February 25, 2022

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported Thursday that the statewide test positivity rate had dropped to 10%, down from last week’s updated 16.4%. This is progress, despite still being above the state’s goal of keeping the rate at 5% or less. While the state is not operating under crisis standards of care, the number of open ICU beds at Idaho hospitals remains low. On Thursday, the state only had 10 available ICU beds statewide. The state also announced this week that less than half of Idaho Medicaid participants are vaccinated for COVID, so testing is critical. Up to 12 tests per person per month are covered by Medicaid, according to the state. The COVID-19 vaccine is free to everyone, regardless of health insurance status.