You can now do this. You still can’t do that. New Boise (& Idaho) virus-rebound rules
Idaho is open again — mostly. But it’s a challenge to keep up, to know what you can now do and what you can’t.
Most of the statewide restrictions, originally put in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, were lifted Saturday, June 13. That means most Idahoans can return to their lives largely as they did before Gov. Brad Little issued the state’s stay-at-home order in March — but with face coverings, social distancing and frequent hand washing.
There are exceptions. And in Boise, the rules are slightly stricter. Local governments — cities, counties and public health districts — are permitted to put more stringent restrictions in place than the state’s.
Here’s what you need to know before you go out.
What can I do in Idaho now?
Now that Little has moved Idaho into Stage 4 of the state’s rebound plan, most businesses that choose to be open are open again, and you can visit certain places that you couldn’t before.
Visits to senior living facilities and correctional facilities are now allowed..
Nightclubs may reopen “with diminished standing-room occupancy.”
Large event venues, including those for sports and concerts, are allowed to reopen too, “under limited physical distancing protocols.”
Gatherings can be larger as well — but there’s a catch in Boise. In most of Idaho, more than 50 people are allowed to get together as long as they respect the recommended social distancing guidelines of at least 6 feet between people. In Boise, gatherings are capped at 250 people even if social distancing is followed.
Nonessential travel was allowed in Stage 3, but now travelers are no longer encouraged to self-quarantine when returning from other countries or “from an area outside Idaho with substantial community spread or case rates higher than Idaho.”
Businesses can “resume unrestricted staffing of worksites,” though recommendations encourage working at home whenever possible.
What can I do in Boise?
Most public services have reopened in the city, though not libraries.
Golf courses, parks (including dog and skate), and courts (tennis, basketball, volleyball, pickleball) are open again. You can visit playgrounds and splash pads. You can visit Zoo Boise.
You can take an e-scooter out for a spin, and you can attend a Boise City Council meeting (in person in the limited, socially distanced seating or remotely by signing up to testify on Zoom).
Boise Public Library locations are offering curbside pickup and drop-off of materials, and book drops are open seven days a week at all locations. The libraries themselves expect to reopen July 6 with a limited number of patrons allowed inside.
Some city buildings still have limited access, and access to the Boise Airport remains limited to ticketed passengers and people helping them.
What are the differences between Boise’s reopening plan and Idaho’s?
The biggest difference is what is required of people.
In Boise, people are required to maintain 6 feet of distance whenever possible and wash their hands often using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. That is highly recommended, but not required, in Little’s Stay Healthy plan.
Boise also puts a cap on group sizes that Idaho’s order does not — a maximum of 250 people can gather in the city of Boise as long as social distancing protocols are called.
There is no cap on large gatherings in Idaho’s order, but event planners are encouraged to host events outdoors and create flexible refund policies because, as the state’s guidance says, “Idaho’s public health officials cannot predict what the threat of COVID-19 will be across the state in July, August, September, and beyond.”
Do I have to wear a face covering?
No, though both Boise and the state recommend it. As in earlier stages, some places, such as hospitals and doctors’ offices, may require you to.
Many businesses, such as supermarkets, ask that you do. Your employer may require a mask or other face covering on the job. And health officials at the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommend masks as a way to help protect people from the potential spread of the virus.
While a mask alone may not be enough to protect people from the virus, it can work in tandem with other measures to keep you and your family safe.
This story was originally published June 15, 2020 at 1:16 PM.
.jpg)