Dear Idaho, the last I checked, you were part of what many refer to as the “sensible section of the United States”—not the Southern region. But it seems that Trump’s influence has taken a toll. We lament the overflowing ICUs in southern states like South Carolina and Texas, and we discuss the dismal vaccination rates in Alabama and Mississippi. And Florida? A man there was arrested this summer for feeding a wild alligator, claiming, “He’s a good boy… and he loves bagels.” This gives you a glimpse into Florida’s Covid stats, political situation, and healthcare capacity—not that it’s a complete picture.
However, Idaho isn’t on anyone’s radar right now—but it should be.
In the first week of September, Idaho hit what the Associated Press termed “a grim trifecta”: record ER visits, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions. The state is also experiencing the highest demand for ventilators since the pandemic began. Experts caution that cases could soar to over 30,000 weekly, translating to more than 1.5% of Idaho’s population contracting Covid every week. With only 39% fully vaccinated and 46% having received at least one dose, Wyoming might win the ‘Murica, Land of Despair Award, but Idaho shares the stage with states like Mississippi and Alabama, both hovering around a 40% vaccination rate.
When your state motto can no longer be “Thank God for Mississippi,” you’ve got a serious issue.
Idaho? Yes, indeed, Idaho.
Typically, Idaho doesn’t come to mind as a bastion of extremism. Yet, it’s now aligning with the rest of tinfoil hat America. “This is a place that attracts individuals who have an independent, self-sufficient mindset,” remarked Alex Thompson in an interview. “The belief is that if something goes wrong, you can handle it on your own.” Perhaps with a bit of horse dewormer on the side?
Reports indicate that “Driving around, you see plenty of yellow Gadsden flags reading, ‘Don’t Tread On Me.’” If you haven’t yet realized that this is a sign of troubling times, perhaps you’ve been oblivious to American politics since before the Trump era. In Idaho, there’s a significant distrust of the government—think FDA, Dr. Fauci, and the Biden administration—all urging vaccinations. The rationale seems to be that if they’re promoting it, it must be suspicious.
In Idaho, the term “Big Pharma” gets tossed around frequently.
Brad Lawson contended that any crisis accompanied by a death count clock on television creates a fear-driven environment. He believes his mother, who suffered a brain aneurysm due to high blood pressure, is “a casualty of the vaccine,” and insists that if your immune system is strong, Covid isn’t a major threat.
Tell that to Dr. Sarah Parker of St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center, who reports that their ICUs are overwhelmed with generally healthy, unvaccinated patients. A recent survey revealed that a third of Idaho residents outright refuse to get vaccinated. Meanwhile, at Kootenai Health in Coeur D’Alene, patients are being treated in makeshift areas like conference centers and hallways.
Crisis Standard of Care
Idaho’s situation is dire enough that hospitals in the Panhandle and North Central health districts—along with Boise-Nampa and Magic Valley regions—have activated crisis standards of care. Simply put, this means hospitals are now “rationing care for all patients, regardless of their diagnosis.” The goal, as explained by NPR, is to “gracefully degrade” services to ensure that the most critical needs are met while maximizing patient and provider safety.
This translates into two-day waits in ERs for ICU beds, canceling elective surgeries, and prioritizing urgent procedures like orthopedic surgeries and brain tumor removals. Nurses are overwhelmed with high patient loads and may not check vital signs as often. If the situation worsens, rationing could extend to who receives oxygen and who doesn’t, and who gets a ventilator while others struggle to breathe.
The Idaho State Division of Public Health even had to advise residents in a press conference: “Be cautious about activities that might lead to significant injuries requiring emergency care.” While they encouraged seeking medical attention when necessary, they also stressed avoiding unnecessary ER visits.
So, if you’re in Idaho, steer clear of that rickety ladder, dodge any heart attacks or strokes, and channel your inner pioneer spirit—maybe with a bit of whiskey to numb the pain. Not really. Just kidding. Honestly, if I were to cut myself in Idaho right now, I’d have to resort to biting down on a stick while my husband, who’s an Eagle Scout, patched me up.
Idaho’s Political Landscape
The Associated Press characterizes Idaho as “deep-red,” and most of us don’t typically think about its political climate outside of its four electoral votes. In fact, Wolf Blitzer often automatically flips Idaho red during election coverage, saying something like, “CNN can now call Idaho for [insert Republican candidate],” as polls close alongside several other states that capture our attention.
Currently, Governor Mark Ellis is attempting to sue Biden over vaccine mandates for businesses with over 100 employees. His public statements criticize government mandates, claiming that “government should stay out of decisions involving employers and their employees.” Yet he simultaneously urges everyone to get vaccinated.
His lieutenant governor, Jessica Hart, who’s running against him in the primaries, has embraced more extreme rhetoric. When Ellis advised residents to “show a little love to their neighbor” and get vaccinated, she deemed his actions “shameful” and sought to prohibit schools and cities from enforcing mask mandates, insisting that individuals should make their own healthcare decisions.
Still think Idaho is no worse than South Carolina? Not so fast.
In Ada County, a pathologist nominated for a health board position has referred to COVID-19 vaccines as “needle rape” and “the clot shot.” The county’s leaders still have to confirm his appointment. Ada County collects and publicly shares emails in support of candidates; one such letter from Sarah Winslow claims that the nominee “has studied COVID extensively.” Another supporter, Tim Richards, asserts that he will “protect our freedoms and parental rights to make medical choices.”
What on earth is happening in Idaho? We imagined you were just vast fields of happy potatoes, but instead, it seems you’re a landscape filled with anti-vaxxers waving Gadsden flags while succumbing to Covid. Get it together, implement some mask mandates, and stop the outcry against Big Pharma. Because with your hospitals overwhelmed, you’re sending your overflow of Covid patients across the border to Washington, which boasts one of the highest vaccination rates in the country, and folks there are understandably frustrated.
Honestly, Idaho? We can’t say we blame them.
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Summary
Idaho is grappling with a significant Covid crisis, marked by record hospitalizations and a low vaccination rate. The state’s political landscape is tumultuous, with leaders and citizens expressing distrust towards vaccine mandates and public health advisories. As hospitals face overwhelming patient loads, Idaho’s situation serves as a cautionary tale of the ongoing pandemic’s impact.
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