By Yereth Rosen

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) – Alaska, which led most U.S. states in coronavirus vaccinations months ago, took the drastic step on Wednesday of imposing crisis-care standards for its entire hospital system, declaring that a crushing surge in COVID-19 patients has forced rationing of strained medical resources.

Governor Mike Dunleavy announced this move along with officials from the health department. The number of confirmed new cases in Alaska reached a record 1,224 people on Wednesday, amid the outbreak of the Delta variant.

The Delta variant is “crippling our healthcare system. It’s impacting everything from heart attacks to strokes to our children if they get in a bike accident,” Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska’s chief medical officer, said at a news conference with Dunleavy.

Idaho is another rural state where COVID-19 patients have overloaded healthcare systems in the past few weeks. It activated its crisis-care guidelines statewide last week, citing an increase in hospitalizations which “has exhausted all resources.”

Alaska’s health and social services commissioner, Adam Crum, announced that he signed an emergency addendum extending to the whole state standards of crisis care announced last week at the state’s largest hospital, Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.

Providers of crisis-level care in Alaska hospitals are now exempt from liability under the new document.

The new document acknowledges the reality of Alaska’s rationed healthcare system. Staff and medical supplies are limited and prioritized so that patients can receive normal care regardless of how sick or likely to recover.

Zink stated that some critically ill patients have been treated in places other than the intensive care units, where they are usually admitted.

“Care has shifted in Alaska’s hospitals. It is impossible to provide the same level of care as before. This has been happening for weeks,” Zink told reporters.

According to officials, Alaska has signed a contract worth $87 million to recruit hundreds of health care workers from outside the state in order help with COVID-19.

State data shows that COVID-19 affects about half of Alaskan hospital patients. Dunleavy explained that the state’s burden is underestimated as it has limited capacity to provide treatment for patients who have suffered from strokes, car accidents and other illnesses.

Paradoxally, Alaska was among the states that had received COVID-19 vaccinations in April. This is due in part to the efforts of its pandemic-conscious native population.

According to state data, Alaska’s vaccination rate has fallen below that of the rest of the country, only 58% have been fully vaccinated. This coincided with considerable political opposition to the state’s public health regulations.

In May, voters in Anchorage, the state’s largest city, elected a new mayor, Dave Bronson, who campaigned against health mandates and has repeatedly expressed his refusal to get vaccinated. Dunleavy is opposed to any mandate requiring vaccinations.

The Republican governor of Alaska, Dunleavy, spoke out at Wednesday’s news conference. He cited Alaska’s lowest COVID-19 death rate per capita.