The US state of Idaho has activated "crisis standards of care" to allow for healthcare rationing at hospitals in northern parts of the state due to a surge in Covid-19 patients requiring hospitalisation.
The activation in the Panhandle and North Central health districts follows a severe shortage of staffing and available beds in those areas, the state's health department said in a statement.
Idaho Governor Brad Little said last week he was reactivating the National Guard and directing up to 370 additional people to help hospitals as they were overwhelmed with unvaccinated Covid-19 patients.
Mr Little said at the time: "We are dangerously close to activating statewide crisis standards of care – a historic step that means Idahoans in need of