COVID-19 Policy Update & Calls to Action

Possible New Restrictions - Decision at 5:15 pm MT Today

New COVID-19 Health Order to be Voted on Friday, Dec. 4th @ 5:15pm MT
Central District Health will vote on the proposed order (see below) today, Dec. 4th at 5:15 pm MT. To watch, please follow this link: Live via Youtube.

Proposed Health Order:
The following orders impact Employers, Businesses, and Individuals in Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley Counties of Idaho

With the proposed order, a few new restrictions will be added along with the already established city mask mandates:

• County-wide face covering mandates
  • More information regarding specific requirements here
• Visits to long term care facilities, jails, and state correctional facilities will be prohibited and those employees and providers who do interact with residents, patients, and inmates must adhere to strict protocols regarding masking, hygiene and infection prevention. 
• Businesses must implement delivery/curb-side services when possible.
• Organized youth and adult sports and activities in which physical distancing of 6 feet is not possible will be prohibited.

If the order is approved, the restrictions outlined will be enforced at a local level and charges/fines will be given if not followed. This includes those not wearing face coverings.

Further information and Employer Requirements can be found here.

Content Credit: Central District Health

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Future COVID-19 Discussions

Due to continued rise in COVID-19 cases, the Board of Health will meet weekly on Tuesdays at 5:15 pm MT as needed. (subject to change)

Watch Meetings Live via Youtube

• Friday, December 4 | Boise - 5:15 pm
• Tuesday, December 8 | Boise - 5:15 pm
• Tuesday, December 15 | Boise - 5:15 pm
• Friday, December 18 | Boise - 8:30 am to 12:30 pm (Regular Business Meeting)
• Tuesday, December 22 | Boise - 5:15 pm
• Tuesday, December 29 | Boise - 5:15 pm

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COVID Emergency Relief - Take Action

A bipartisan collection of Senators and Representatives recently announced a temporary package of COVID relief proposals. Estimated to cost $908 billion, the COVID Emergency Relief Framework would be effective December 1 through March 31, 2021. The lawmakers propose:

• $288 billion for PPP, EIDL, restaurants, stages
• $180 billion for additional UI benefits of $300 per week
• $160 billion for state/local governments
• $25 billion for rental assistance; and $4 billion for student loans, among many other things.

It is important for a relief package to be rolled out to take extreme burdens off of nonprofits and the people they serve. Please join the Idaho Nonprofit Center, the National Council of Nonprofits, and charitable organizations across the nation in advocating for the inclusion of #Relief4Charities in the package.

Here are three things you can do right now to join the effort:

1. Email (Representatives, Senators) and tweet to your Representative and Senators the new Nonprofit Community Letter.
2. Tweet one of these sample messages to your Senators and Representative. You can also post additional tweets using the #Relief4Charities hashtag, expressing why your nonprofit and the people you serve need additional relief now. 
3. Spread the word! Ask three people to join you in taking those valuable and easy actions. Or write an op-ed for your local paper detailing the challenges your nonprofit is facing and calling for a COVID relief package that includes #Relief4Charities.

Content Credit: Montana Nonprofit Association and National Council of Nonprofits

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Ask Governor Little for a Mask Mandate

The Idaho Nonprofit Center recently collected over 200 additional signatures in addition to the 300+ we received in August, all in support of a statewide mask mandate. The next step in our efforts is to encourage you to contact the Governor's office directly and voice your support for a mask mandate

We've made it quick and easy for you:

1. Click here to visit the Contact Us form on the Governor's Website 
2. Enter the required information
3. Select COVID-19 as the message subject
4. Copy and paste (and add or edit) the following language, then click Send:

Governor Little:
 
I am writing you today in order to make sure you know that I support a statewide mask mandate for Idaho.  Our state appreciates and looks forward to your continued leadership during this difficult time. You have guided us through some of the most challenging times in recent history.
 
However, I am concerned about the lack of action towards initiating any sort of a mask mandate for the entire state, instead leaving it up to local and regional officials to determine what is best in their community. As you may know, many in the nonprofit sector on the front lines help their communities respond to increased need for food, shelter, childcare, support for domestic abuse and healthcare.
 
Like you, local governments have also experienced mounting pressure from both sides of this issue. Those against face coverings are continually highlighted in the media and dominate online discussions. Their (sometimes aggressive) voices and actions are rendering local and regional control almost ineffective in some communities.  Our state needs your leadership and your voice to unite us against a common enemy: COVID.
 
We await your brave decision to protect Idaho. Our economy, our vulnerable populations, our school children and our communities at large are depending on it.
 
Thank you for your time.