BOISE, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) - Governor Brad Little announced Idaho did not meet the criteria over the past two weeks to advance past the final stage of the Idaho Rebounds plan.

Idaho will remain in Stage 4 for at least another two weeks.

In the fall, Governor Little expects Idaho schools to safety reopen for in person education.

"Despite the incredible advances in learning, you can never replace the value and impact of in person interaction with a professional, dedicated teacher," Little said.

The expectation is that schools will not be closed for extended periods of time.

The plan, unanimously approved by the Idaho State Board of Education, says schools must be prepared to teach students with traditional face-to-face methods in the classroom, distance learning online, or a hybrid combination.

The plan mainly gives decision-making authority to local school districts, but also says the types of teaching will depend on the level of virus transmission in the local community. Specific criteria on that aren't contained in the plan.

You can watch the press conference below.

Stage Four

INDIVIDUAL	EMPLOYER	SPECIFIC TYPE EMPLOYER
Vulnerable Idahoans can resume public interactions, but should practice physical distancing, minimizing exposure to social settings where distancing may not be practical, unless precautionary measures are observed.	Resume unrestricted staffing of worksites but practice physical distancing, personal protections and sanitation for protection of workers, and continue to encourage telework when feasible.	Visits to senior living facilities and congregate facilities (e.g. jails and corrections) can resume. Those who interact with residents and patients must be diligent regarding hygiene and physical distancing.
Gatherings, both public and private, of more than 50 people, where appropriate physical distancing and precautionary measures are observed can occur. Find gatherings guidance here.	Special accommodations for employees who are considered vulnerable should be made.	Nightclubs may operate with diminished standing-room occupancy, where applicable and appropriate.
Non-essential travel continues to locations that allow it and do not have ongoing transmission (individuals should adhere to state and CDC guidelines regarding isolation following travel).	All open businesses continue to follow plans.	Large venues (e.g. sporting venues) can operate under limited physical distancing protocols.
	Non-essential travel continues to locations that allow it and do not have ongoing transmission (employers should adhere to state and CDC guidelines regarding isolation following travel).

Business Protocols for Opening — Businesses opening their doors in various stages of the Idaho Rebound plan should have operational plans in place to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19. For business protocols available, click here.

Every two weeks: re-evaluation against criteria to determine feasibility to move from one stage to the next.

Stage 4 Stay Healthy Guidelines

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STATE OF IDAHO
IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE
STAY HEALTHY GUIDELINES
June 13, 2020

BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES MAY CONTINUE TO RESUME OPERATIONS AT PHYSICAL LOCATIONS IN THE STATE OF IDAHO.

ALL BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES SHOULD ADHERE TO THE PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND SANITATION REQUIREMENTS DESCRIBED IN SECTON 4.

VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE STATE OF IDAHO MAY RESUME PUBLIC INTERACTIONS BUT SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.

GATHERINGS OF ANY SIZE ARE ALLOWED BUT SHOULD ADHERE TO THE PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND SANITATION REQUIREMENTS DESCRIBED IN SECTON 4.

NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL CAN RESUME.

THE GOVERNOR AND IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE DIRECTOR FIND THAT:

1 – The virus that causes Coronavirus 2019 Disease (“COVID-19”) has resulted in a global pandemic, is present in Idaho, and has infected over 3,200 Idahoans, resulting in 85 deaths to date. The virus is easily transmitted, especially in group settings, and it is essential that the spread of the virus be slowed to protect public health and safety and safeguard the ability of public and private healthcare providers to handle an influx of new patients.

The Governor’s Guidelines for Opening Up Idaho are based on evidence of a reduction of severe cases of COVID-19 within the State of Idaho; as well as, the advice and input of state epidemiologists, public health experts, and guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and the White House. These guidelines are also based on the scientific evidence and best practices regarding the most effective approaches to slow the transmission of communicable diseases generally and COVID-19 specifically, and evidence that the age, condition, and health of a significant portion of the population of the state places its citizens at risk for serious health complications, including death, from COVID-19.

Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, which the CDC considers a serious public health threat, there is a public health emergency throughout the State of Idaho. Making the problem worse, some individuals who contract the COVID-19 virus have no symptoms or have mild symptoms, which means they may not be aware they carry the virus. Because even people without symptoms can transmit the disease, and because evidence shows the disease is easily spread, gatherings can result in transmission of the virus.

At present, travel is a commonly known source of COVID-19 infections in Idaho. All fifty states and the District of Columbia have reported cases and declared states of emergency. Now, COVID-19 clusters with substantial community spread have developed across the United States, including in Idaho and neighboring states. One Idaho county had the highest per-capita number of cases in the country at one time and COVID-19 is believed to have been introduced into the county by a traveler or travelers visiting Idaho from out of state.

The scientific evidence shows that at this stage of the emergency, it is essential to slow virus transmission as much as possible to protect the most vulnerable and to prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed. Following State and CDC guidelines helps preserve critical and limited healthcare capacity in the State of Idaho. Opening certain business activities in stages reduces the risk of spread of COVID-19 to Idaho citizens, including Idaho’s most vulnerable population. In consultation with state and federal epidemiologists and healthcare experts, this staged approach is intended to preserve capacity in our healthcare system by opening businesses in stages and maintaining physical distancing.

2 – Vulnerable individuals in Idaho may resume public interactions but should practice physical distancing and wear face coverings or masks while in public. Vulnerable individuals should minimize exposure to social settings where distancing may not be practical. Vulnerable individuals that do not feel comfortable resuming public interactions are strongly encouraged to stay at home. Members of households with vulnerable residents should be aware that by returning to work or other environments where distancing is not always possible they could carry the virus back home.  

Vulnerable individuals are people who are at higher risk for severe illness as defined by the CDC located at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html.

3 – People participating in gatherings of any size should adhere to the Physical Distancing and Sanitation recommendations in Section

4 – “Physical Distancing and Sanitation Recommendations”

Individuals should:

• Maintain at least six-foot physical distancing from other individuals whenever possible;
• Wash hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds as frequently as possible or use hand sanitizer;
• Cover coughs or sneezes (into the sleeve or elbow, not hands);
• Regularly clean high-touch surfaces and not shake hands;
• Stay home if sick;
• Wear face coverings while in public, especially when six-foot distancing is not always possible (e.g., inside businesses); and
• Implement additional protocols established in the Governor’s Guidelines for Opening up Idaho published at https://rebound.idaho.gov/.

Employers should:

• Develop and implement measures to ensure employees and customers maintain at least six-foot physical distancing from other individuals whenever possible;
• Provide adequate sanitation and personal hygiene for employees, vendors, and patrons;
• Frequently disinfect commonly touched and high-traffic areas and regularly clean those areas;
• Identify how personal use items such as masks, face coverings, and gloves may be required by employees, vendors, and/or patrons;
• Provide services while limiting close interactions with patrons;
• Identify strategies for addressing ill employees, which should include requiring COVID-19 positive employees to stay at home while infectious, and may include keeping employees who were directly exposed to the COVID-19 positive employee away from the workplace, and the closure of the business until the location can be properly disinfected;
• On a case-by-case basis, include other practices appropriate for specific types of businesses such as screening of employees for illness and exposures upon work entry, requiring non-cash transactions, etc.; and
• Implement additional protocols established in the Governor’s Guidelines for Opening up Idaho and the business-specific protocols published at https://rebound.idaho.gov/. 

The Stay Healthy Order effective May 30, 2020 is hereby rescinded.

SIGNATURES:

___________________________________              Dated: June 11, 2020

BRAD LITTLE, GOVERNOR

STATE OF IDAHO

___________________________________              Dated: June 11, 2020

DAVE JEPPESEN, DIRECTOR

IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE