IDAHO — The current positivity rate and community spread of COVID-19 has health officials worried about going back into Crisis Standards of Care in the coming weeks.
Idaho's current positivity rate is 25.7 percent, the highest percent health officials have seen during the entire pandemic. Some health care providers have reported up to 50% positivity rates in the last few days.
"If the current trends continue, meaning we continue to see this level and number of cases and this number of people going to the hospital we would expect crisis standard of care measure in a matter of weeks," DWH Director Dave Jeppesen said. "Probably not days, but it would be sooner than later."
Related: IDHW Director: COVID-19 test positivity climbing, going to get worse
On Jan. 18, Idaho posted 3,555 confirmed or probable cases with nearly 28,200 outstanding positive lab results pending local public health district review and follow-up.
Idaho is reporting 344,412 total cases of #IdahoCovid19 (including 3,555 new) and 4,282 deaths to date (12 new, reported to the state since yesterday). Details at https://t.co/BYu73fcA9Z pic.twitter.com/DhuUo1ZwX9
— DHW (@IDHW) January 19, 2022
With the current positivity rates, rise in hospitalizations, and more health care workers out with COVID-19, health officials are bracing for crisis standard of care again, if trends don't start to change.
Related: St. Luke's continues to see high number of COVID-19 hospitalizations
Health officials urge everyone to get vaccinated, get a booster shot, wear an N-95 mask in public and stay home if you feel sick.
