Dear Idaho, the last time I checked, you were part of what we refer to as the “rational part of the United States,” aka “not the Southern part.” But let’s be real, Trump is a powerful influence. We lament the overflowing ICUs in South Carolina and Texas, fret over low vaccination rates in Alabama and Mississippi, and then there’s Florida—a place where a man once resisted arrest for feeding a wild alligator, claiming, “He’s a good boy… and he loves bagels.” This sums up Florida’s Covid vaccination rates, political climate, and healthcare situation. Or does it? You can make some inferences, for sure.
Nobody seems to be discussing Idaho, but we absolutely should be.
In the first week of September, Idaho hit what the Associated Press describes as “a grim trifecta”: record ER visits, hospitalizations, and ICU patients. The state is also experiencing the highest ventilator usage since the pandemic began. Experts caution that Covid cases could exceed 30,000 a week this September, equating to over 1.5% of Idaho’s entire population contracting Covid every seven days. With just 39% of residents fully vaccinated and 46% having received at least one dose, Idaho joins the ranks of states like Wyoming in a very unfortunate category. Only three states have fully vaccinated rates above 40%: Mississippi, Alabama, and Idaho.
When your state motto can’t even be “Thank God for Mississippi,” you know there’s a serious issue.
Idaho? Yes, Idaho.
We typically don’t associate Idaho with wild antics, but this place seems to fit right in with the rest of the conspiracy-theory-loving parts of America. “This is a location that attracts those with an independent, self-sufficient mindset,” Jeremy Smith mentioned to NPR. “The idea is, if anything happens, you can just handle it.” Perhaps with a dash of horse dewormer?
NPR reports that “Driving around, you see plenty of yellow Gadsden flags that say, ‘Don’t Tread On Me.’” If this doesn’t raise red flags for you, you haven’t been paying attention to American politics for a while. In Idaho, there’s a significant distrust of government entities—think the FDA, Dr. Fauci, and Biden. Many residents are skeptical of vaccination campaigns, believing that if the government promotes something, it must be suspicious.
People here toss around terms like “Big Pharma.”
Brad Sing told NPR, “If you attach a death count clock on TV to any crisis, it’s going to create a fear-driven situation.” He believes his mother, who suffered a brain aneurysm after a blood pressure spike, is a “victim of the vaccine,” and he thinks Covid isn’t a big deal if your immune system is strong.
Tell that to Dr. Tom Richards at St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center, who reports that their ICU is overflowing with previously healthy, unvaccinated individuals. A recent survey revealed that a third of Idahoans refuse to get vaccinated. Meanwhile, at Kootenai Health in Coeur D’Alene, patients are being treated in conference centers, classrooms, and hallways.
Crisis Standard of Care
Idaho’s numbers are so alarming that hospitals in the Panhandle and North Central health districts—Boise-Nampa and Magic Valley are expected to follow soon—have implemented crisis standards of care. In simple terms, hospitals are now “rationing care for everyone, regardless of their diagnosis.” This means deciding who gets immediate treatment and who must wait.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, “[w]hen crisis conditions exist, the goal is to ‘gracefully degrade’ services to the minimum degree necessary to meet demands, ensuring maximum patient and provider safety.” The aim is to extend vital resources and limit the impact of shortages, which ultimately means everyone suffers.
This results in extended ER wait times—up to 100 hours for an ICU bed—and the cancellation of elective surgeries, with only urgent procedures allowed, often leaving orthopedic and brain surgeries to be pushed aside. Nurses are overwhelmed with high patient loads and can’t check vital signs as frequently.
If conditions worsen, rationing care might escalate: determining who receives oxygen or a ventilator.
Idaho’s State Division of Public Health has gone so far as to advise citizens to “be cautious about activities that could lead to emergencies requiring medical care.” They stress the importance of avoiding the emergency room unless absolutely necessary.
So if you’re in Idaho, maybe skip that rickety ladder. Avoid heart attacks and strokes. Find some pioneer spirit, grab a bottle of whiskey, and try to stitch up any cuts yourself. Just kidding—or maybe not. Honestly, if I cut myself in Idaho right now, I’d probably have to bite down on something while my partner stitched me up.
Idaho’s Political Landscape
The Associated Press refers to Idaho as “deep-red,” and most of us generally overlook the state’s politics outside of its four electoral votes, only paying attention every four years. Wolf Blitzer quickly calls Idaho for the Republican candidate as soon as polls close, which usually coincides with other states that capture our interest more, allowing Idaho’s particular brand of madness to slip under the radar.
This madness includes Republican Governor Brad Little attempting to sue Biden over vaccine mandates for businesses with over 100 employees. In his statement, he complains about government mandates, insisting that “government should stay out of decisions involving employers and their employees as much as possible,” while simultaneously urging everyone to get vaccinated.
His lieutenant governor, Sarah Johnson, who is running against him, has taken a more extreme stance. When Little encouraged people to “show a little love to their neighbor” and get vaccinated, she labeled his actions as “shameful.” She’s attempted to block mask mandates in schools and cities, insisting that “people should make their own health care choices.”
Not quite as bad as South Carolina, right? Hold on.
In Ada County, a pathologist nominated to a regional health board has referred to Covid-19 vaccines as “needle rape” and the “clot shot.” County leaders still need to vote on his appointment. Ada County collects public emails supporting candidates; one such letter claims Cole “has studied COVID extensively.” Other letters praise him as a protector of freedom and parental rights regarding medical choices.
What is happening, Idaho? We thought you were just vast fields of potatoes. Instead, it seems you’re a landscape filled with anti-vaxxers proudly waving Gadsden flags while suffering from Covid. Who knew? Get it together, enforce some mask mandates, and stop whining about Big Pharma. Because with no room left in your hospitals, you’re sending extra Covid patients across the border to Washington, which boasts one of the best vaccination rates in the nation—much to their discontent.
Honestly, Idaho? Can’t say we blame them.
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Summary
Idaho is facing a severe healthcare crisis with record hospitalizations and low vaccination rates. The state has implemented crisis standards of care, causing delays and rationing in medical treatment. There’s a significant distrust of government and vaccines among residents, which has contributed to the current situation. Political tensions continue to rise, with officials split on how to handle the pandemic. The overall state of Idaho is concerning, and residents are urged to take precautions as the situation worsens.