Some Idaho hospitals have reactivated Crisis Standards of Care.

The Department of Health and Welfare announced it’s activated the status for three health districts in southwest, central, and southcentral health districts.

The reason, the high number of both clinical and non-clinical staff unable to work due to the impacts of COVID-19 infections, coupled with a nationwide staffing shortage, and nationwide blood shortage.

Saint Alphonsus Health system requested DHW activate Crisis Standards of Care for the entire state. But Director Dave Jeppesen made the decision to activate southern Idaho only after reviewing current hospital capacity regionally.

Jeppesen said other regions are likely to move into CSC if current COVID-19 trends continue.