Little activates National Guard
BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 11 months AGO
Little
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | February 1, 2022 9:00 AM
Gov. Brad Little activated the Idaho National Guard on Monday for the fourth time during the pandemic to alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 in Idaho.
Little activated 75 Idaho National Guardsmen to assist primary health and the Idaho Department of Correction, which are experiencing higher patient counts and staffing shortages because too many employees are absent from work due to COVID-19, according to a press release.
Little said he also secured 503 additional personnel through a state contract to assist Idaho hospitals.
“The strain on healthcare, schools, business, and government from the spread of COVID-19 is a reminder that we are not out of the pandemic,” Little said.
Kootenai Health had 103 COVID-19 inpatients on Monday, with 12 in critical care and one pediatric patient. It reached a high of 150 COVID-19 patients in early October, then it dropped to a low of 36 in early January before the latest surge attributed to the omicron variant.
“We are pleased to see the Governor’s announcement today that additional help is on the way to Idaho hospitals,” according to a statement from Kootenai Health. “Many of us face the same issues of high patient volumes and a strained labor force.”
A military medical team helped with COVID-19 patients at Kootenai Health last year. Doctors, nurses and therapists were among those who began their duty in September and continued into November.
Kootenai Health did not know Monday what Little’s announcement meant for it.
“We are working closely with the state to learn how our organization will benefit from this announcement,” a statement said.
The state has provided more than $50 million to expand healthcare capacity during the public health crisis. Funds have gone to many areas, including to relieve staffing shortages, expand monoclonal antibody treatment facilities, and increase COVID-19 testing in schools.
The Panhandle Health District reported 345 new COVID-19 cases on Monday. It also has nearly 5,000 back-logged cases. Deaths in the PHD attributed to the virus total 841, with 521 of those in Kootenai County.
The state reported 2,581 new cases on Monday, with more than 42,000 outstanding positive laboratory results that are pending local public health district review. It reported 146 people were hospitalized statewide on Saturday.
The surge in new cases is blamed primarily on the omicron variant, which is considered more contagious but causes milder symptoms.
Twenty-seven omicron cases have been identified in Kootenai County, according to the state website, but the figure is believed to be much higher.
State health officials continue to call on people to get vaccinated and boosted and said not only are there variants like omicron to contend with, but now, a sub-variant of omicron.
ARTICLES BY BILL BULEY
Companions Animal Center has adopted out nearly 2,000 dogs, cats in 2025
Companions Animal Center has adopted out nearly 2,000 dogs, cats in 2025
As if to prove it, signs on two kennel doors proclaim “I have been adopted! I’m currently waiting to be picked up by my new parents.” One is a timid black mastiff. But the shelter remains crowded. Monday, it has about 50 large dogs filling kennels, including in the new wing oped this year, and there is still a four-month waiting list with names of about 80 dogs that people are looking to surrender pets.
Post Falls man named director of ministry with global reach
Post Falls man named director of ministry with global reach
Grassi, a longtime hunter and fisherman, started what was originally called “Let’s Go Fishing Ministry, Inc.” with a focus on outdoors, men and God. It was later changed to “Men’s Ministry Catalyst." The emphasis was on helping men understand their role as defined in the Bible.
Nonprofit foundation helps family become homeowners for first time
Nonprofit foundation helps family become homeowners for first time
The Young Family’s Foundation launched about a year ago with a mission "to empower young, hardworking families to achieve the dream of home ownership. Even if a family saved $25,000, they would still be $19,000 short of the down payment needed to buy a $550,000 home, which is the median price in Kootenai County. It’s estimated that only about 20% of area households can afford to buy a home.