Inslee Says Idaho Must Do More To Control COVID-19

OLYMPIA, Wash.--Governor Jay Inslee is calling on Idaho leaders to do more to control the surge of COVID-19 cases in that state. Inslee spoke on MSNBC Friday, saying Idaho is "clogging up" Washington state's hospitals by sending their COVID-19 patients across state lines for care. Last week, many Spokane area providers issued a statement asking Idaho facilities to stop sending them patients.

Inslee added that he's disappointed in Idaho Governor Brad Little's response to the pandemic, and he's calling on Idaho state leaders to "take some commonsense measures" to control the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

Little has since responded, stating Spokane County and the surrounding area on his(Inslee's) side of the border continue to be hot spots for virus activity with the lowest vaccination rates in the entire state of Washington, despite issuing vaccine mandates and mask mandates,".