Idaho governor calls on National Guard to help hospitals as COVID-19 cases surge

• "Where hospitals have converted other spaces to be used as contingency ICU beds, those are filling up too," Little added.

What he's saying: "We are dangerously close to activating statewide crisis standards of care — a historic step that means Idahoans in need of health care could receive a lesser standard of care or may be turned away altogether," Little said.

• "In essence, someone would have to decide who can be treated and who cannot. This affects all of us, not just patients with COVID-19."

Details: Up to 150 guardsmen will support short-staffed health facilities and will handle procedures like screenings, lab work and more.

• The U.S. General Services Administration will send in 200 additional medical and administrative personnel.
• A 20-person medical response team from the Department of Defense will be deployed to North Idaho, where vaccination rates are low.

By the numbers: Idaho has reported a total of 221,389 coronavirus cases and 2,363 confirmed deaths, according to government data.

• Cases have been surging since early July.