Anyone who experiences COVID-19 symptoms is encouraged to get tested, and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) is offering free at-home COVID-19 tests to Idaho residents. Tests can be requested by calling 2-1-1; no personal information is required other than a name and mailing address.

We'll update this "situation report" in the morning, in the evening, and other times as we see as necessary each day, until COVID-19 becomes a thing of the past. Click through and read on: This is your local portal to the local news.

While much of the country has seen COVID-19 coronavirus case counts considerably reduced as vaccines have become widely available during recent months, Idaho County has become a stronghold for the disease, with the known active case count having climbed back into the 70s — a total that had n…

LAPWAI - Nimiipuu Health (NMPH) has been working diligently to vaccinate patients since the vaccine became available. Recently, NMPH was able to work with the Central Public Health District to obtain doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (Pfizer Vaccine), which is now recommended for…

The Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) is announcing that all Idaho children ages 12-15 are now eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. With this recommendation, 85 percent of all Idahoans are eligible for the vaccine.

The Department of Health and Welfare (DHW), in coordination with Gov. Brad Little, announced today that Idaho continues to thrive during the pandemic and is moving from Stage 3 to Stage 4 of the Idaho Rebounds Plan.

The Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) has a new funding opportunity to establish and operate mobile, off-site, walk-in and special COVID-19 vaccination clinics in underserved populations. That includes communities of high social vulnerabilities, racial and ethnic minorities and rural co…

The Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) is recommending that Idaho vaccine providers not use the Johnson & Johnson vaccine until more information is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This recommendation was made after receiving information on April 1…

BOISE – Governor Brad Little signed an executive order today banning any State of Idaho governmental entity from requiring so-called “vaccine passports” – or proof of COVID-19 vaccination for citizens to receive public services or access facilities.

Appointments are now available for individuals seeking to get the single-dose Jansen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine on Friday, April 9 at the Public Health facility in Lewiston.

BOISE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has recently announced that they will begin providing financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020 for deaths related to coronavirus (COVID-19) to help ease some of the financial stress caused by the pandemic…

LAPWAI -- Beginning April 1, the Nez Perce Tribe (Tribe) will change its COVID-19 response to correspond with Stage 4 of the Idaho Rebounds guidelines. As of March 26, Nimiipuu Health (NMPH) had a 14-day average of less than one positive COVID-19 case per day and a positivity rate of 4.17 percent.

Individuals who are 16 years of age and older are now eligible to get their COVID-19 vaccine through enrolled providers within Latah, Nez Perce, Lewis, Clearwater, and Idaho counties. According to the public health department, all previous phases are still eligible and encouraged to schedule…

BOISE – The deadline to file Idaho state income taxes will be extended to May 17 to conform with temporary changes to the federal tax filing deadline.

Governor Brad Little announced his decision today to open up COVID-19 vaccine appointments to all Idahoans over age 16 starting April 5.

LEWISTON – Public Health and enrolled COVID-19 vaccine providers will start scheduling vaccination appointments for anyone aged 35 and older effective immediately.

LEWISTON – Public Health and enrolled COVID-19 vaccine providers continue to urge those aged 65 and older to schedule their vaccine appointments.

BOISE – Governor Brad Little issued a message to the people of Idaho on Tuesday, March 9, reflecting on one year of Idaho’s pandemic fight. Saturday, March 6, marks one year since Idaho’s first confirmed COVID-19 case.

BOISE – Under Governor Brad Little’s direction, the State of Idaho created a new COVID-19 vaccine appointment pre-registration solution to help alleviate the frustration of many Idahoans in trying to make an appointment to get the vaccine.

LEWISTON – Public Health and enrolled COVID-19 vaccine providers continue to urge those aged 65 and older to schedule their vaccine appointments. According to the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare there are approximately 22,000 individuals in the north central Idaho who are age 65 and…

Public Health – Idaho North Central District is urging people aged 65 and older who have not yet received their COVID-19 vaccination to call Public Health at 208-799-3100 to schedule an appointment while vaccine is still designated for this group.

Given the limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine that is available at this time and Idaho’s commitment to equitable and fair access to vaccine, the state of Idaho is now requiring that those seeking COVID-19 vaccines in the state should either live or work in Idaho.

Public Health – Idaho North Central District is asking people aged 65 and older who have not yet received their COVID-19 vaccination to call Public Health at 208-799-3100.

LAPWAI – Today (Feb. 12), Nimiipuu Health administered 211 first-dose, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccinations to individuals with the assistance of the Idaho National Guard. The mass vaccination was conducted at the Clearwater River Casino Event Center to accommodate and provide appropriate social di…

BOISE – After weeks of declining COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations, Governor Brad Little announced today that statewide metrics justify returning to Stage 3 of the Idaho Rebounds plan.

Governor Brad Little signed a new executive order today requiring local public health districts and healthcare providers to regularly report the number of vaccine doses they have been allocated, how many shots they have given, and how many doses they have in inventory, to ensure vaccine is g…

My fellow Idahoans, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, as your Governor I have worked hard to protect lives and critical health care capacity for the entire state while keeping families safe and businesses and schools open.

BOISE – Following a weeks-long decrease in statewide COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, Governor Brad Little announced today that he is instructing the State Board of Education to revise its high school athletic plan to allow more spectators at sporting events.

BOISE – Governor Brad Little announced today he will seek to increase the number of available Idaho National Guard personnel from 250 to 400 guardsmen later this week to aid in Idaho’s pandemic response. The additional guardsmen will assist in vaccine distribution.

GRANGEVILLE – A COVID vaccine FAQ, rollout schedule, and direct line is available on Syringa Hospital & Clinic website www.syringahospital.org.

The Idaho office of AARP will host a statewide telephone town hall with Idaho Governor Brad Little and Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen on January 19. The discussion will focus on the most up-to-date information related to the ongoing pandemic including the vacci…

Public Health – Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) and enrolled vaccine providers in Clearwater, Latah, Lewis, Idaho, and Nez Perce counties continue to work closely on coordination of weekly vaccine allocations and future vaccine distribution. This week marks the fifth week of vaccine b…

Governor Brad Little announced today four key updates on the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines across Idaho.

LEWISTON – Healthcare personnel identified in the Idaho COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee (CVAC) prioritization list, can now sign up to be notified when the Covid-19 Vaccine is available to them. https:/coronavirus.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CVAC-Prioritization-for-HCP-and-Essential

Idaho is in full swing getting vaccines out to Idahoans. As of today, Idaho has received 56,225 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. All those doses have been distributed throughout Idaho to enrolled healthcare providers, including hospitals, Idaho’s local public health districts, and other healthcare…

BOISE – Governor Brad Little announced today he is directing the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) to carry out weekly virtual press briefings regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.

(Dec. 22, 1 p.m.) - The Idaho Division of Public Health has received reports of two healthcare workers experiencing severe allergic reactions, also referred to as serious adverse events, after they received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The events happened in northern Idaho and the T…

(Dec. 15, 10:40 a.m.) LEWISTON – Public Health – Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) is preparing for the region’s first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine to arrive in the next few days. The vaccine, created by Pfizer and BioNTech, was determined both safe and effective by the Federal Drug Adm…

BOISE -- Governor Brad Little authorized an increase in Idaho National Guard support from 100 to up to 250 personnel serving on active duty in an effort to enhance medical capacity and COVID-19 response throughout Idaho.

At an emergency board meeting today, the Board of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare approved a temporary administrative rule that allows for the timely activation of crisis standards of care during a pandemic, natural disaster. or other emergency that is overwhelming Idaho’s healthc…

Governor Brad Little explained today that Idahoans can expect diminished healthcare access if the State of Idaho must activate the Crisis Standards of Care, and he outlined many of the actions the state has taken to address the constraints facing hospitals due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department of Health and Welfare has announced that COVID-19 is the leading cause of death in Idaho for November, based on preliminary data collected from death certificates. It is the third leading cause of death from January 2020 through November 2020.

LEWISTON – Public Health – Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) has confirmed the first two deaths associated with COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in Clearwater County.

LEWISTON – Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare (IDHW) have provided options to reduce the quarantine period for asymptomatic close contacts of COVID-19 cases. The recommendation for a 14-day quarantine was based on estimates of …

(Nov. 20) Given the current prevalence of COVID-19 in our community, St. Mary's & Clearwater Valley Hospitals and Clinics are very concerned with limiting exposure to both our patients and staff. Due to limited rapid testing supplies, testing all visitors is not feasible for us at this t…

The Idaho COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee on Friday recommended the state accept what’s called early distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. Doing so would allow the vaccine to reach enrolled providers 24 to 48 hours sooner than the standard distribution process.

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Public Health – Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) warns case surges in the last month have created backlogs and delays for their disease investigation teams, making it impossible to contact all new reported cases or those individual’s close-contacts. Disease investigation remains a top …

We have different types of alarms in our life in order to be prepared and to remind us of things that are important. Some alarms we can hit snooze, or even ignore, most of the time we need to heed them. We have had alarms go off for seven months about COVID, we know there’s fatigue, but we c…