Due to the overwhelming number of COVID-19 cases occurring in the Statehouse, the Idaho Legislature will recess until April 6.
Sen. Michelle Stennett
Democratic Leaders Ilana Rubel and Michelle Stennett said they wish the individuals who’ve tested positive a full and speedy recovery, and are thankful for the decision to take a two-week pause. However, it shouldn’t have taken an outbreak for lawmakers to start addressing the seriousness of the coronavirus, since the Statehouse is equipped with fully functional remote capabilities, they added.
“We hope our colleagues are able to heal quickly and return, so we can finish the session. But we can’t help but be disappointed in how bad things have become at the Capitol, when we could’ve prevented this from becoming a hot spot all along,” the pair said in a joint statement.
Rep. Ilana Rubel
“We are just so sorry it took so many people getting sick for us to act. We must do better when we return, or else we’ll keep finding ourselves in this position.”
As of 5 p.m. Thursday, the state had logged more than 177,000 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases, as well as nearly 2,000 deaths. This week, The New York Times reported Idaho Falls was the nation’s worst hot spot, with Rexburg as number three.