Idaho restrictions remain; governor encourages flu shots

BOISE (AP) — Idaho will remain in the fourth and final stage of reopening during the coronavirus pandemic for at least another two weeks, Gov. Brad Little said Thursday.

Little said that hospitalizations of those infected remain too high, but other areas, such as the positivity rate, are improving.

He also encouraged getting flu shots. He said that flu patients combined with COVID-19 patients could threaten healthcare capacity. A shortage of medical supplies or patient beds could cause the state to fall back to more restrictions.

"These variables threaten our healthcare capacity — the very thing we are trying to protect so that our economic rebound can continue."

The state has been stalled in stage 4 that was initially set to expire on June 27. It allows gatherings of more than 50 people as long as precautions are taken.

Johns Hopkins University through Wednesday reports that Idaho had more than 32,000 coronavirus infections and 372 deaths.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.