Idaho’s coronavirus protective gear will last about 2 weeks
BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Idaho has enough gowns, face shields, gloves and other medical supplies to last for two weeks in dealing with the coronavirus and that more supplies are on the way, officials said Tuesday.
Republican Gov. Brad Little visited a Boise site where state officials are receiving and distributing medical supplies from donors, the federal government's Strategic National Stockpile and state procurement efforts.
"The protection of our healthcare workers is a big part of preserving healthcare capacity, and ample personal protective equipment keeps them healthy and safe," Little said in a statement.
He also said in a video released by his office of the tour the state must do more testing for the virus and that more personal protective equipment for healthcare workers is needed to boost that effort.
Little said his March 25 statewide stay-at-home order is working to slow the spread of the virus. The order expires late Wednesday and Little is scheduled to hold a news conference Wednesday morning about the order.
He has not said whether the order will be extended, but has previously said he does not expect life to get back to normal in Idaho until there is a vaccine or a effective treatment for the virus.
"The statewide stay-home order is working to slow the spread of coronavirus, and Idaho will be better positioned for a strong economic comeback because we are making difficult changes in how we live and work in the short-term," Little said Tuesday.
Idaho had 1,464 virus cases and 33 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally.
The coronavirus is mainly spread through coughs and sneezes. For most people, it causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
The Idaho Office of Emergency Management is overseeing distribution of protective gear throughout the state. As of Tuesday, the agency said it had about 37,000 gowns, 45,000 face shields, 900,000 gloves, 100,000 N95 face masks, 215,000 surgical masks and 89,000 pairs of safety goggles.
Also Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced that the Federal Aviation Administration will distribute about $44 million in airport aid to 36 Idaho airports to help the facilities respond to the pandemic.
The money is from the $2.2 trillion rescue package passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump last month.
The airport funding is aimed at replacing revenue lost from the severe decline in passenger traffic and other airport business because of the coronavirus. The money can be used for airport capital expenditures, airport operating expenses such as payroll and utilities, and airport debt payments.
The Boise Airport in southwestern Idaho is receiving just under $19 million, and the Idaho Falls Regional Airport in eastern Idaho will get about $2.3 million.
