Policy Alert

State Now in Stage 3

Late this afternoon Governor Little announced the rollback of our Rebound Idaho plan to Stage 3 statewide to combat rapidly rising infections of COVID-19. Here’s what you need to know about that mandate from the Governor’s office:

Under the new Stage 3: 

• Indoor gatherings are limited to 50 people or less. 
• Outdoor gatherings are limited to 25-percent capacity. 
• Physical distancing requirements are in place for gatherings of all types. 
• Long-term care facilities will not be allowed to operate without requiring masks on their premises.  
• There will be seating only at bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. Nightclubs can only operate as bars. 
• Employers should continue to protect at-risk employees by allowing telework or by making special accommodations for these individuals in the workplace. 
• All individuals and businesses should follow recommended protocols for minimizing transmission of the virus available at Rebound.Idaho.Gov. 

Click here for more information about what Stage 3 means for all of us. You can also find business-specific protocols through any stage of our recovery.  

To read the public health order in its entirety, please click here.

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Where to find masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer

If you need access to MGS (masks, gloves, hand sanitizer) for your office, the state of Idaho discontinued its MGS program effective August 31, 2020. Instead, the state has a resource list of vendors on this website: idahoppeexchange.com. 

If your organization is qualified and has a need for MGS, you must first register for an account before you will be able to place an order. It may take up to three business days for your account to be approved.  

Note that the prices of MGS supplied on this page are listed as “not to exceed.” Actual price, minus shipping charges, will be calculated in the Supply Request Form and covers only the cost incurred by the Idaho Department of Administration. Prices are subject to change in line with MGS cost changes.

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What does this mean for events?

Other than limitations on gatherings as noted in the public health order, the best source for information on events, gatherings, and more would be your local health district. Idaho is divided into seven different districts, and when you visit this page, find your district and scroll to the bottom to find the direct link to yours.

Each health district will have information and guidance for events and gatherings. For example, on the Central Health District website, you can navigate to information about public health orders in Ada County. There is also a ton of information for businesses and nonprofits on remaining open and operational as safely as possible.

Specifically, if you’re looking for guidance on social gatherings and events, you can find something like this available in your health district region, and it will be updated with the most current information.

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What does this mean for my staff?

For many nonprofits, sending your staff team to work remotely is not feasible, especially as direct service providers. The Idaho Nonprofit Center is not the foremost resource for safe operations, however your local health district (as mentioned above) will have all the guidance you need to operate safely.

In any case, here are some of our recommendations for all of us to adhere to:

1. Keep any and all staff working remotely to the extent that is feasible for you
2. Require masks in common areas and when more than one staff are present and socially distancing is not possible
3. Be sure to have antibacterial wipes or cleaners on hand and wipe down hard surfaces whenever possible (if you are unable to work remotely). Do this also when you arrive and before you leave for the day. 
4. Make sure you follow the recommendations of your local health district and the state public health order for gatherings and meetings and continue all meetings (and events) remotely to the greatest extent possible.
5. Update your emergency communications plans and contacts (for example, does your office have an emergency phone tree set up). This way in case of exposure you can quickly get the word out.
6. Update your return to work policies to accurately reflect your local guidelines. 
7. Wash your hands as much as possible with soap for a minimum of 20 seconds. If soap is not available, be sure you use hand sanitizer and have it available in your office in as many places as possible.
8. Consider screening employees for illness and exposure (if not working remotely)
9. Ensure you have strategies in place to support employees that are ill (be sure you follow the FMLA guidance on COVID related sick leave as a result of the FFCRA legislation) and consider closing your office/nonprofit if there’s been exposure to properly disinfect

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How do we know how many cases we have?

​The Idaho Nonprofit Center has always recommended visiting Idaho’s coronavirus information page, which includes links to several useful tableau data visualization pages on the state’s COVID-19 data dashboard.  

You can view the state and county stats, along with demographics of those impacted, weekly hotspots and trends and laboratory testing data. Visit coronavirus.idaho.gov to see daily case count updates, usually by 5:30 pm MT.

On this page you can link to resources and information if you are stressed or scared, the One Idaho Pledge page, the Idaho Rebounds page, and much more.

A particular interest might be the current COVID-19 transmission risk levels map. This is another important resource as you’re considering hosting any in person events. According to the Idaho Back to School Framework posted at local public health districts, this color-coded map identifies the category of transmission level within a community using scientifically driven metrics. This map shows the current evaluation by the local public health districts by county.  Questions? Contact your local public health district.

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One Idaho Pledge

Please also join the Idaho Nonprofit Center and other nonprofits and businesses and sign the One Idaho pledge.

We must do all we can to protect our friends and neighbors. Remember that wearing a mask is the kind and neighborly thing to do. The scariest part of the virus is the rapid transmission from asymptomatic people. You may not have symptoms but have the virus. Wearing a mask helps ensure you are not unknowingly spreading the virus.

Stay safe, stay happy, and stay healthy!