SPOKANE, Wash. – It’s a stark difference between Washington and Idaho Covid-19 as the latest Covid surge is becoming an ethical challenge.
The impact of varying pandemic responses are falling on border communities, according to the Washington State Hospital Association.
“For our eastern Washington hospitals, Idaho is really challenging,” Washington State Hospital Association President Cassie Sauer said. “It is very frustrating for Washington hospitals to feel like we are the stopgap for ineffective Covid practices in Idaho.”
Over the weekend, the Panhandle Health District reported four additional Covid-related deaths which was a minimal increase compared to the 42 deaths reported on Friday. In comparison, Spokane County reported nine deaths over the weekend and one death on Friday.
“This is a very terrible way to die,” Sauer said.
Chief Medical Officer at Sacred Heart Dr. Daniel Getz said they will continue to help Idaho and take Covid patients.
“That’s part of our mission, to take care of the poor and the vulnerable but it’s challenging. We need the help of the community to get vaccinated,” Dr. Getz said.
Statewide in Washington, hospitalizations are down 9% from last week. Spokane County is following the trend, moving from 242 patients on September 13 to 221 patients on Monday.
The downward trend of hospitalizations is helping boost a positive outlook on the current virus spike, but Dr. Daniel Getz said they are still dealing with an all-time high patient census.
“Another we are not practicing crisis standards of care on this side of the state, we still feel like we are in crisis,” Dr. Getz said.
Crisis standards of care are in effect for all hospitals in Idaho, with the first sent of hospitals taking these
Both Getz and Sauer having the same message, “we need the help of the community to get vaccinated.”
Idaho’s vaccine rate for people 12-years and older is 51%. Washington’s vaccine rate for people 12-years and older is 68.9%. The nationwide rate is 63.9%.
Cassie Sauer said, “it’s a human fueled disease and it could be a human-controlled disease.”
