| Governor issues 'Stay Healthy' order Below is the text of Idaho Governor Brad Little’s ‘Stay Healthy’ order issued Friday, May 1: BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES MAY RESUME OPERATIONS AT PHYSICAL LOCATIONS IN THE STATE OF IDAHO EXCEPT FOR THOSE BUSINESSES IDENTIFIED IN THIS ORDER. ALL BUSINESSES MUST ADHERE TO THE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND SANITATION REQUIREMENTS DESCRIBED IN SECTON 7 OF THIS ORDER. CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS ENTERING IDAHO MUST SELF-QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS. VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE STATE OF IDAHO ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO STAY HOME AND LIMIT THEIR MOVEMENT OUTSIDE OF THEIR PLACE OF RESIDENCE. GATHERINGS, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, SHOULD BE AVOIDED. NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL SHOULD BE AVOIDED OR MINIMIZED. Pursuant to Article IV, § 5 of the Idaho Constitution and Idaho Code §§ 46-601 and 46-1008, the Governor issues this Order with the Director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (“the Director”). The Director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is authorized by Idaho Code § 56-1003(7) “to impose and enforce orders of isolation and quarantine to protect the public from the spread of infectious or communicable diseases.” This Order is effective as of 12:00 a.m. May 1, 2020 and will continue to be in effect until it is extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing by the Governor and Director. UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF ARTICLE IV, § 5 OF THE IDAHO CONSTITUTION AND IDAHO CODE §§ 46-501, 46-1008, AND 56-1003(7) THE GOVERNOR OF IDAHO AND IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE DIRECTOR FIND AND ORDER: 1. ; as well as, 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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“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. Blaine County has the highest per-capita number of cases in the state 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. This Order 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 that are most able to maintain social distancing and minimize the number of contacts among individuals. · All vulnerable individuals in Idaho should continue to self-isolate. Because of the risk of the rapid spread of the virus, and the need to protect all citizens of the State of Idaho, this Order requests all vulnerable individuals anywhere in Idaho 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. Precautions should be taken to protect and isolate from vulnerable residents. Vulnerable individuals are people who are at higher risk for severe illness as defined by the CDC, incorporated into this Order by reference and located at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-higher-risk.html · The following businesses within the State of Idaho are required to remain closed except to perform Minimum Basic Operations, as defined in Section 6: a. Bars and nightclubs; · Restaurant dining rooms (takeout and delivery continue to be allowed); · Indoor gyms and recreation facilities; · Close contact services (e.g. hair salons, nail salons, massage parlors, cosmetic, etc.); · Large venues (e.g. movie theatres, concert venues, sporting venues, etc.). · Statewide directive for individuals arriving in Idaho from another state or country to self-quarantine. a. Persons entering the state of Idaho are required to self-quarantine for 14 days. If an individual will be present in Idaho for fewer than 14 days, that individual must self-quarantine for the duration of their visit. For purposes of clarity, this directive does not apply to persons performing an Essential Purpose or persons who as part of their normal life live in one state and travel to another state for an Essential Purpose. · “Essential Purpose” is interpreted broadly and includes travel required for personal safety; to obtain food, beverage or medicine; for medical care; pursuant to a lawful permit, license, court order, or rule; to care for others; and to perform work, services or functions deemed critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security. Travel into the state of Idaho for recreation is not an Essential Purpose. · Any individual required by this directive to self-quarantine shall be responsible for any and all costs associated with the requirement to self-quarantine, including transportation, lodging, food, and medical care. · Persons who have tested positive for COVID-19, are presumptively diagnosed with COVID-19, or are exhibiting symptoms identified in the CDC’s screening guidance shall not enter the state of Idaho unless doing so under medical orders for the purposes of medical care, are being transported by emergency personnel, are being driven directly to a medical provider for purposes of medical care, or are a resident of the state of Idaho. · For the purposes of this Order, “Minimum Basic Operations” include the following, provided that employees comply with Social Distancing and Sanitation Requirements as defined in this Section, to the extent possible, while carrying out such operations: i. The minimum necessary activities to maintain the value of the business’s inventory, ensure security, process payroll and employee benefits, or for related functions. i. The minimum necessary activities to facilitate employees of the business being able to continue to work remotely from their residences. i. The minimum necessary activities to prepare the business to reopen at such time as deemed appropriate, including but not limited to, sanitization, obtaining personal protective equipment, and setting up procedures to ensure compliance with Social Distancing and Sanitation Requirements. · “Social Distancing and Sanitation Requirements” a. Individuals shall maintain at least six-foot physical distancing from other individuals whenever possible. · Individuals should: i. Wash hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds as frequently as possible or use hand sanitizer; i. Cover coughs or sneezes (into the sleeve or elbow, not hands); i. Regularly clean high-touch surfaces, and not shaking hands; i. Stay home if sick; and · Are strongly encouraged to use face coverings while in public. · Employers shall: i. Develop and implement measures to ensure employees and customers are maintaining at least six-foot physical distancing from other individuals whenever possible; i. Provide adequate sanitation and personal hygiene for employees, vendors, and patrons; i. Frequently disinfect commonly touched and high-traffic areas and regularly clean those areas. · Employers should: i. Identify how personal use items such as masks, face coverings, and gloves may be required by employees, vendors, and/or patrons; i. Provide services while limiting close interactions with patrons; i. 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; i. 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.; · 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 violation of any mandatory provision of this Order constitutes an imminent threat to public health. Violation of or failure to comply with this Order may constitute a misdemeanor punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both pursuant to Idaho Code § 56-1003(7)(c). The Governor and Director requests that the Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police in the State of Idaho, and Idaho State Police ensure compliance with and enforce this Order. · This Order shall become effective as of May 1, 2020 and will continue to be in effect until it is extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing by the Governor and Director. 1. The Stay-Home Order dated March 25, 2020 and subsequently extended is hereby rescinded. 1. To decrease the spread of COVID-19, the cities, counties, and public health districts of the State of Idaho may enact more stringent public health orders than those set out in this Order. 1. Each county and each city must promptly provide copies of the Order as follows: (1) by posting the Order on its website, (2) by posting the Order at each county courthouse and each city hall, and (3) by providing a copy to any member of the public requesting it. The Order will also be posted on the website of the Department of Health and Welfare. 1. If any provision of this Order or its application to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid, then the remainder of the Order, including the application of such part or provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected and shall continue in full force and effect. To this end, the provisions of this Order are severable.
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