St. Joseph’s activates crisis standards of care

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The Public Health – Idaho North Central District reported three more virus deaths Thursday, bringing the total this week to 18, and the region reported 102 new cases.

St. Joseph Regional Medical Center activated crisis standards of care Thursday to deal with staffing and capacity challenges caused by the recent surge in COVID-19 patients, spokeswoman Sam Skinner confirmed. The Lewiston hospital and all hospitals in northern Idaho were given the option to move to crisis standards Sept. 7, but St. Joe’s didn’t invoke the standards until Thursday.

St. Joe’s has been “working through a number of strategies” in recent week to mitigate staffing shortages and manage the increase in COVID-19 patients, while also providing other health care services, Skinner said. She revealed that St. Joe’s is treating approximately 15 patients for COVID-19.

Meanwhile The Lewiston School District has had 107 students and staff members test positive for COVID-19 during the three weeks that school has been in session. For the first time this school year, the district included the total number of cases in the daily virus update it sends to parents. There have been 78 student cases and 29 staff cases.

The district added six new cases Thursday, and there are 42 active cases. (Lewiston Tribune)

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