BOISE, Idaho — Governor Little held a press conference on May 14 ahead of the state moving into phase two of Idaho Rebounds on Saturday. Little will be signing an updated Stay Health order on May 16.
Salons, restaurant dining rooms, indoor gyms and recreational facilities will be able to open in phase two. In the conference, Governor Little said bars would be able to reopen on May 30 in phase three, instead of phase four. The protocol for bars to reopen will be posted on the Idaho Rebounds website on Monday.
Gatherings of up to 10 people, in public and in private, can happen if social distancing and precautionary measures are observed. There is no requirement in Idaho for people to self isolate, but those who are vulnerable should continue to do so, if they can.
Little also said the mandatory 14-day quarantine for out-of-state visitors will be modified. If a person is coming from an area with a low amount of cases or no community spread will no longer need to self-quarantine.
Businesses opening in phase two should have a plan in place to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19. These plans do not need to be approved, but businesses are encouraged to make the plans available to the public.
Gov. Little encouraged all Idahoans to continue social distancing, wearing masks and using common state to keep Idaho's rebound on track. He also announced all small businesses can order a 30-day supply of personal protective equipment from the state.
When it comes to testing and contact tracing, which most experts say are vital to reopening safely, Little says more tests are on the way but the number of contact tracers has to be doubled to reach the proper level.
