State responding to help during pandemic

Dear friends and neighbors of Legislative District 1,

We find ourselves in a challenging situation with the health risk caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The virus is new to humans, which means that our natural immune system is not prepared to protect us. Although the number of people infected is still much lower than a typical flu season, without our immune system protecting us, the virus can rapidly spread.

For most, becoming infected is not life threatening. Widespread sickness does have the potential to overwhelm our ability to care for those who are sick and those who are at higher risk of more severe consequences. The response you’re seeing from Idaho state government is a calculated and rational one, which hopefully is the appropriate balance between our physical health and our economic health.

I do not downplay the significance of the health risk to anyone. However, an overreaction to the pandemic in the short-term may result in permanent business closures and job losses that will be felt for an extended period of time. There are numerous state efforts ongoing to respond to the health crisis as well as the pending economic difficulties.

For the most up-to-date information, see the state website http://coronavirus.idaho.gov/.

Please be safe and do what is in your ability to minimize the spread of the coronavirus.

Sincerely,

JIM WOODWARD

Sagle

State Senator

Legislative District 1