NEWS RELEASE

October 29, 2020

Health Advisory Lifted for CJ Strike in Owyhee/Elmore Counties

Central District Health (CDH), Southwest District Health (SWDH), and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) have lifted a health advisory for CJ Strike Reservoir, which has access points in both Owyhee and Elmore Counties. The advisory was issued on September 18, 2020 due to a harmful algal bloom (HAB). After regular monitoring, and water sample collection and testing, DEQ confirmed levels have returned to normal and toxin levels are below the safety threshold.
Public health and DEQ advise water users to be cautious in and around areas where a bloom may still be visible — always use caution around water bodies with visible slime, surface scum, or a foul odor. High concentrations of toxin-producing cyanobacteria may cause illness to both humans and animals.
For information on cyanobacteria blooms, how to report suspicious water, and a map of recreational water quality health advisories in Idaho, visit www.deq.idaho.gov/recreation-health-advisories. Many harmful algal blooms are identified through public reporting. If you suspect a bloom on a recreational water body in Idaho, report it to DEQ at https://cyanos.org/bloomwatch/.

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Contacts:

Christine Myron, Public Information Officer | Central District Health
(208) 871-1712 |  cmyron@cdh.idaho.gov

Katrina Williams, Media Contact | Southwest District Health
(208) 455-5317 | Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Adams County moves to yellow during weekly health alert level reassessment; no other changes made to health alert levels

CALDWELL, IDAHO – Daily incidence rates continue to edge up across the majority of the district. Based on data available for October 11, 2020 – October 24, 2020, Adams County was moved from the gray to the yellow alert level. No other changes were made to the health alert levels. The information used to in determining county health alert levels is listed below.

ADAMS COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Yellow
Adams County will move to the yellow health alert level, with many new cases of COVID-19 reported between October 11, 2020 and October 24, 2020. Adams County had an incidence rate of 3.03 daily new cases per 10,000 people which shows a surge in COVID-19 cases. Many of these new cases can be traced to one cluster of COVID-19 cases. Due to the size and kindred relationships within the community, this cluster has spread quickly throughout the community. One school in Adams County is experiencing a cluster outbreak with transmission occurring within the school.

CANYON COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange
Canyon County will remain in the orange health alert level due to an increasing COVID-19 daily incidence rate[1] and an increasing rate of cluster outbreaks from community gatherings. Canyon County has a daily incidence rate of 3.05 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is trending up. Only 53.7% of COVID-19 cases have reported knowing where they were exposed, which points to sustained community spread. SWDH investigators are continuing to see cases exposed through out of town travel as well as community gatherings. Eight congregate living facilities are seeing cluster outbreaks[2]. Some healthcare facilities in Canyon County are nearing capacity for inpatient and ICU bed and have concerns about critical care staffing. These hospitals are considering cancelling elective surgeries to conserve resources. Additionally, multiple schools in Canyon County are reporting an outbreak or transmission within the school.

GEM COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Yellow
Gem County will remain in the yellow health alert level, due to an increasing incidence rate and relatively low positivity rate. Gem County currently has a daily incidence rate of 2.13 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing. One congregate care facilities in Gem County is facing a sustained COVID-19 outbreak. 70.59% of new cases that were contacted knew where they were exposed to COVID-19, which is trending down and points to some community transmission. Multiple sporadic, imported cases of COVID-19 were identified in Gem County schools, with no evidence of transmission within the schools.

OWYHEE COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Yellow
Owyhee County will remain in the yellow health alert level, due to an increasing COVID-19 daily incidence rate and evidence of community spread. Owyhee County currently has a daily incidence rate of 2.05 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing. Only 29.03% of cases report knowing where they were exposed to COVID-19, which is very concerning and points to sustained community spread. SWDH epidemiologists are seeing cluster outbreaks as a result of exposure in workplaces and households. There were multiple sporadic, imported case of COVID-19 within Owyhee County schools during the two-week date range with no evidence of transmission within schools.

PAYETTE COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Red
Payette County is to remain in the red health alert level, due to a high COVID-19 daily incidence rate, as well as a very high positivity rate. Payette County has a daily incidence rate of 3.43 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is decreasing. Only 43.40% of confirmed cases know where they were exposed to COVID-19, which in decreasing and points to sustained community spread. SWDH epidemiologists are concerned by cluster outbreaks within local workplace settings, households, and as a result of community events. Payette County has a test positivity rate of 16.00%, which is increasing and is very high. Payette County has made progress in controlling COVID-19 within their community, but we would like to see a much lower positivity rate before movement between levels. One Payette County school is seeing a cluster outbreak with transmission occurring within schools.

WASHINGTON COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange
Washington County will remain in the orange health alert level, due to a high daily incidence rate and a high positivity rate. Washington County currently has a daily incidence rate of 2.81 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing. The positivity rate for Washington County is 11.46%, which is increasing and much higher than we would like to see. Only 48.65% of confirmed cases know where they were exposed to COVID-19, which points to sustained community spread. Multiple Washington County schools are currently seeing sporadic, imported cases with no evidence of transmission occurring within schools.

WEEKLY CASES BY SCHOOL DISTRICT
The following table represents data on confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases among students and staff where investigations began between October 18, 2020 and October 24, 2020.

The following table represents data on the number of staff and students currently in quarantine and isolation on the day the data are pulled and may not account for individuals who have been released from quarantine or are just entering quarantine.

Those in quarantine have been identified as a close contact of a positive case and are being asked to stay home for 14 days to monitor for symptoms. Those in isolation are currently positive for COVID-19 and are asked to isolate away from others for a minimum of 10 days from the onset of symptoms to prevent further spread of the infection.

Region 3 data are available on the Southwest District Health website at: https://swdh.id.gov/covid19/.  Please visit https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/ for statewide information. Questions may be directed to the SWDH COVID-19 Call Center Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 208-455-5411.

[1] The incidence rate measures how many cases occur each day, and standardizes this value by population. SWDH measures the daily incidence rate per 10,000 population using the following calculation: daily confirmed and probable cases are averaged over the two-week period. This value is divided by the county population, and then multiplied by 10,000 to find the daily incidence per 10,000.

[2] According to Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, “Long-term care facility means a nursing home, assisted living facility, or intermediate care facility. There are just over 400 long-term care facilities in Idaho. Outbreak means at least one lab-confirmed COVID-19-positive case associated with a facility.”

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Media Contacts: 

Katrina Williams            Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov
Ashley Anderson          Ashley.Anderson@phd3.idaho.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

County health alert levels reassessed; no changes made

CALDWELL, IDAHO – Southwest District Health staff reassessed county health alert levels.  Daily incidence rates continue to edge up across the majority of the district. Based on data available for October 4, 2020 – October 17, 2020, no changes were made to the health alert levels. The information included in determining county health alert levels is listed below.

ADAMS COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Gray

Adams County will remain in the gray health alert level, with only five new cases of COVID-19 reported between October 4, 2020 and October 17, 2020. Adams County had an incidence rate of 0.84 daily new cases per 10,000 people which shows a low risk to the community. There were no reported cases of COVID-19 in Adams County schools during the date range analyzed.

CANYON COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange

Canyon County will remain in the orange health alert level due to a slightly increasing COVID-19 daily incidence rate^[1] and an increasing rate of cluster outbreaks from community gatherings. Canyon County has a daily incidence rate of 2.37 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is trending up. Only 53.7% of COVID-19 cases have reported knowing where they were exposed, which points to sustained community spread. SWDH investigators are continuing to see cases exposed through out of state travel as well as community gatherings. Eight congregate living facilities are seeing cluster outbreaks^[2]. Additionally, multiple schools in Canyon County are reporting an outbreak or transmission within the school. Note: Canyon County will remain in the orange health alert level until sufficient data shows that metrics are met for either the higher or lower level. Canyon County is seeing a similar increase in cases as compared with Ada County. SWDH uses a 4 level system, whereas CDH uses a 3 level system. This can explain why there are differing levels for the two closely entwined counties.

GEM COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Yellow

Gem County will remain in the yellow health alert level, due to a slightly increasing incidence rate and decreased frequency of cluster outbreaks. Gem County currently has a daily incidence rate of 1.58 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing. Two congregate care facilities in Gem County are facing sustained COVID-19 outbreaks. 79.49% of new cases that were contacted knew where they were exposed to COVID-19, which is trending down and points to sustained community transmission. One school is reporting a cluster outbreak with transmission occurring within the school.

OWYHEE COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Yellow

Owyhee County will remain in the yellow health alert level, due to an increasing COVID-19 daily incidence rate and evidence of community spread. Owyhee County currently has a daily incidence rate of 1.57 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing. SWDH epidemiologists are seeing cluster outbreaks as a result of exposure in workplaces, households, community events, as well as out of state travel. Only 41.67% of cases report knowing where they were exposed to COVID-19, which points to sustained community spread. There was one sporadic, imported case of COVID-19 within Owyhee County schools during the two-week date range with no evidence of transmission within schools.

PAYETTE COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Red

Payette County is to remain in the red health alert level, due to a high COVID-19 daily incidence rate, as well as evidence of a high positivity rate. Payette County has a daily incidence rate of 3.82 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is increasing. Only 49.15% of confirmed cases know where they were exposed to COVID-19, which in decreasing and points to sustained community spread. SWDH epidemiologists are concerned by cluster outbreaks within local workplace settings, households, and as a result of travel. Payette County has a test positivity rate of 12.94%, which is decreasing but still very high. Multiple Payette County schools are seeing cluster outbreaks with transmission occurring within schools.

WASHINGTON COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange

Washington County will remain in the orange health alert level, due to a high daily incidence rate and a high positivity rate. Washington County currently has a daily incidence rate of 2.32 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is decreasing. The positivity rate for Washington County is 9.35%, which is decreasing but still much higher than we would like to see. Washington County schools are currently seeing sporadic, imported cases with a cluster outbreak occurring within one school.

SCHOOL DATA

Southwest District Health will begin to release information on the numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases within each school district broken downby staff and students.

The following information is available as of October 15, 2020:

Adams: Isolation: 0, Quarantine:  0
Canyon: Isolation:  54, Quarantine:  339
Gem:  Isolation:  0, Quarantine:  29
Owyhee:  Isolation:  3, Quarantine:  11
Payette:  Isolation:  2, Quarantine:  26
Washington:  Isolation:  3,  Quarantine:  4

Total:  Isolation:  63  Quarantine:  397

The number quarantined is reflective of the number of staff and students currently in quarantine on the day the data are pulled and may not account for individuals who have been released from quarantine or are just entering quarantine. Those in quarantine have been identified as a close contact of a positive case and are being asked to stay home for 14 days to monitor for symptoms.

The isolation cases represent those who are currently positive for COVID-19. Also, those who are in isolation are asked to isolate away from others for a minimum of 10 days from the onset of symptoms to prevent further spread of the infection.

The following information represents students and teachers who tested positive for COVID-19 between 10/11/20-10/17/20 is available.

Region 3 data are available on the Southwest District Health website at: https://swdh.id.gov/covid19/.  Please visit https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/ for statewide information. Questions may be directed to the SWDH COVID-19 Call Center Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 208-455-5411.

[1] The incidence rate measures how many cases occur each day, and standardizes this value by population. SWDH measures the daily incidence rate per 10,000 population using the following calculation: daily confirmed and probable cases are averaged over the two-week period. This value is divided by the county population, and then multiplied by 10,000 to find the daily incidence per 10,000.

[2] According to Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, “Long-term care facility means a nursing home, assisted living facility, or intermediate care facility. There are just over 400 long-term care facilities in Idaho. Outbreak means at least one lab-confirmed COVID-19-positive case associated with a facility.”

# # #

Media Contacts: 

Katrina Williams            Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov
Ashley Anderson          Ashley.Anderson@phd3.idaho.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New COVID-19 information website available; County health alert levels reassessed

CALDWELL, IDAHO – Southwest District Health is excited to announce a new COVID-19 information website available at  https://ahealthiersouthwestidaho.org/. This new website is a one-stop source for all of the districts’ COVID-19 information, both in English and Spanish. The site has helpful information about how to slow the spread of COVID-19, useful printables, and social media graphics for anyone to download and use, helpful videos that can be shared with anyone, and our full FAQ page with common questions and answers about COVID-19. While it is a large source of information, we will be continuously adding to the site, keeping all the information as up to date as possible.

Southwest District Health staff continue to notice an upward trend in district-wide incidence rates. Daily incidence rates continue to edge up across the majority of the district. As of October 7, 2020, the daily district-wide incident rate per 10,000 is 2.06. This number is up from 1.92 per 10,000 on September 23, 2020. During the weekly reassessment of health alert levels based on data available for September 27, 2020 – October 10, 2020, Gem County was moved from the orange health alert level to the yellow health alert level. Owyhee County moved from the gray health alert level to the yellow health alert level.

The information included in determining county health alert levels is listed below.

ADAMS COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Gray

Adams County will remain in the gray health alert level, with only two new cases of COVID-19 reported between September 27, 2020 and October 10, 2020. Because there are only two new cases in Adams County for this date range, the Adams County dashboard will be unavailable on the SWDH website. 

CANYON COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange

Canyon County will remain in the orange health alert level, with a slightly increasing COVID-19 daily incidence rate^[1], an increasing rate of cluster outbreaks, and stability in Canyon County healthcare systems. Canyon County has a daily incidence rate of 1.98 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is trending up. Only 60% of COVID-19 cases have reported knowing where they were exposed, which is trending up but still points to sustained community spread. SWDH investigators are continuing to see cases exposed through out of state travel. Eight congregate living facilities are seeing cluster outbreaks^[2]. Additionally, multiple schools in Canyon County are reporting an outbreak or transmission within the school.

GEM COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Yellow

Gem County will move to the yellow health alert level, due to a decreasing incidence rate, low positivity rate, and decreased frequency of cluster outbreaks. Gem County currently has a daily incidence rate of 1.38 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is decreasing. Three congregate care facilities in Gem County are facing sustained COVID-19 outbreaks. 83.3% of new cases that were contacted knew where they were exposed to COVID-19, which is trending up but still points to sustained community transmission. One school is reporting a cluster outbreak with transmission occurring within the school.

OWYHEE COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Yellow

Owyhee County will move to the yellow health alert level, due to an increasing COVID-19 daily incidence rate and evidence of community spread. Owyhee County currently has a daily incidence rate of 1.21 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing. SWDH epidemiologists are seeing cluster outbreaks as a result of workplace and household exposure, as well as some out of state travel. Only 66.67% of cases report knowing where they were exposed to COVID-19, which points to sustained community spread. There was one sporadic, imported case of COVID-19 within Owyhee County schools during the two-week date range.

PAYETTE COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Red

Payette County is to remain in the red health alert level, due to a high COVID-19 daily incidence rate, as well as evidence of a high positivity rate. Payette County has a daily incidence rate of 3.79 daily new cases per 10,000 people which decreased slightly but is still very high. Only 53.91% of confirmed cases know where they were exposed to COVID-19, which in decreasing and points to sustained community spread. SWDH epidemiologists are concerned by cluster outbreaks from essential gatherings such as local workplace settings and household clusters. Payette County has a test positivity rate of 13.49%, which is increasing and was a major factor in determining this week’s alert level. Multiple Payette County schools are seeing sporadic, isolated cases with no transmission occurring within schools. Newly implemented measures, by some Payette County schools, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are encouraging steps to help in-person learning continue safely.

WASHINGTON COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange

Washington County will remain in the orange health alert level, due to a high daily incidence rate and a high positivity rate. Washington County currently has a daily incidence rate of 2.88 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is decreasing. The positivity rate for Washington County is 11.97%, which is decreasing but still much higher than we would like to see. Washington County schools are currently seeing sporadic, imported cases with transmission occurring within one school.

SCHOOL DATA

Southwest District Health will begin to release information on the numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases within each school district broken downby staff and students.

The following information is available as of October 15, 2020:

Adams:  Quarantine:  0
Canyon:  Isolation:  30, Quarantine:  198
Gem:  Isolation:  0, Quarantine:  29
Owyhee:  Isolation:  1, Quarantine:  12
Payette:  Isolation:  12, Quarantine:  39
Washington:  Isolation:  3,  Quarantine:  7

Total:  Isolation:  46  Quarantine:  285

The number quarantined is reflective of the number of staff and students currently in quarantine on the day the data are pulled and may not account for individuals who have been released from quarantine or are just entering quarantine. Those in quarantine have been identified as a close contact of a positive case and are being asked to stay home for 14 days to monitor for symptoms.

The isolation cases represent those who are currently positive for COVID-19. Also, those who are in isolation are asked to isolate away from others for a minimum of 10 days from the onset of symptoms to prevent further spread of the infection.

Region 3 data are available on the Southwest District Health website at: https://swdh.id.gov/covid19/.  Please visit https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/ for statewide information. Questions may be directed to the SWDH COVID-19 Call Center Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 208-455-5411.

[1] The incidence rate measures how many cases occur each day, and standardizes this value by population. SWDH measures the daily incidence rate per 10,000 population using the following calculation: daily confirmed and probable cases are averaged over the two-week period. This value is divided by the county population, and then multiplied by 10,000 to find the daily incidence per 10,000.

[2] According to Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, “Long-term care facility means a nursing home, assisted living facility, or intermediate care facility. There are just over 400 long-term care facilities in Idaho. Outbreak means at least one lab-confirmed COVID-19-positive case associated with a facility.”

# # #

Media Contacts: 

Katrina Williams            Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov
Ashley Anderson          Ashley.Anderson@phd3.idaho.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Daily incidence rates edge upward; no changes to counties’ health alert levels this week

CALDWELL, IDAHO – No changes were made to county health alert levels when Southwest District Health staff reassessed each county based on data available for September 20, 2020 – October 3, 2020. Daily incidence rates continue to edge up across the majority of the district. As of October 7, 2020, the daily district-wide incident rate per 10,000 is 1.92. This number is up from 1.55 per 10,000 on September 23, 2020.

The information included in determining county health alert levels is listed below.

ADAMS COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Gray

Adams County will remain in the gray health alert level, with no new cases of COVID-19 reported between September 20, 2020, and October 3, 2020. Because there are no new cases in Adams County for this date range, the Adams County dashboard will be unavailable on the SWDH website.

CANYON COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange

Canyon County will remain in the orange health alert level with a slightly increasing COVID-19 daily incidence rate , a declining rate of cluster outbreaks, and stability in Canyon County healthcare systems. Canyon County has a daily incidence rate of 1.63 daily new cases per 10,000 people that is trending up slightly. Only 59.9% of COVID-19 cases have reported knowing where they were exposed, which is trending up but still points to sustained community spread. SWDH investigators are continuing to see cases exposed through out-of-state travel. Ten congregate living facilities are seeing cluster outbreaks . Additionally, multiple schools in Canyon County are seeing sporadic, imported cases of COVID-19, with one school reporting an outbreak or transmission within the school.

GEM COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange

Gem County will remain in the orange health alert level due to an increasing incidence rate, increasing positivity rate, and increased frequency of cluster outbreaks. Gem County currently has a daily incidence rate of 3.00 daily cases per 10,000 people, which increased slightly. Three congregate care facilities in Gem County are facing sustained COVID-19 outbreaks. 85.11% of new cases that were contacted knew where they were exposed to COVID-19, which is trending up but still points to sustained community transmission. Multiple schools are seeing cluster outbreaks and transmission within the school.

OWYHEE COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Gray

Owyhee County will remain in the gray health alert level due to a low COVID-19 incidence rate, as well as all cluster outbreaks, being a result of essential gatherings such as workplace or household exposure. Owyhee County currently has a daily incidence rate of 0.73 daily cases per 10,000 people, which increased slightly. There was report of one sporadic, imported case of COVID-19 within Owyhee County schools during the two-week date range. Staff and students are taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

PAYETTE COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Red

Payette County is to remain in the red health alert level due to a continually increasing COVID-19 incidence rate, as well as evidence of cluster outbreaks within schools. Payette County has a daily incidence rate of 3.91 daily new cases per 10,000 people that is increasing. Only 58.42% of confirmed cases know where they were exposed to COVID-19, which points to sustained community spread. SWDH epidemiologists are concerned by cluster outbreaks from essential gatherings such as local workplace settings and household clusters. Epidemiologists are also concerned with an increased frequency of cases exposed to while traveling out-of-state. Multiple Payette County schools are seeing sporadic, isolated cases with one school experiencing a sustained cluster outbreak. Additionally, many Payette County residents share their border communities with Oregon residents, who are also seeing uncontrolled outbreaks in workplaces and throughout the community.

WASHINGTON COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange

Washington County will remain in the orange health alert level due to an increasing daily incidence rate and a high positivity rate. Washington County has a daily incidence rate of 3.94 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing. However, many new cases in Washington County are associated with isolated cluster outbreaks that pose little risk to the community at large. SWDH epidemiologists are considering this fact when determining alert levels for Washington County. The positivity rate for Washington County is 16.81%, which is increasing. Washington County schools are currently seeing sporadic, imported cases with transmission occurring within one school..

SCHOOL DATA

To comply with appropriate privacy regulations and constraints, Southwest District Health does not release information on cases within schools on a school-specific or building-specific basis. Individual schools or school districts determine what information to release regarding cases based on legal counsel advice and constraints of privacy regulations.

The following county-level summary of COVID-19 cases in schools is available as of today, October 8, 2020:

Adams: Quarantine: 0
Canyon: Isolation: 18, Quarantine: 150
Gem: Isolation: 4, Quarantine: 95
Owyhee: Isolation: 1, Quarantine: 14
Payette: Isolation: 20, Quarantine: 34
Washington: Isolation: 3, Quarantine: 7
Total: Isolation: 46 Quarantine: 300

The number quarantined is reflective of the number of staff and students currently in quarantine on the day the data are pulled and may not account for individuals who have been released from quarantine or are just entering quarantine. Those in quarantine have been identified as a close contact of a positive case and are being asked to stay home for 14 days to monitor for symptoms.

The isolation cases represent those who are currently positive for COVID-19. Also, those who are in isolation are asked to isolate away from others for a minimum of 10 days from the onset of symptoms to prevent further spread of the infection.

Region 3 data are available on the Southwest District Health website at: https://swdh.id.gov/covid19/.  Please visit https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/ for statewide information. Questions may be directed to the SWDH COVID-19 Call Center Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 208-455-5411.

[1] The incidence rate measures how many cases occur each day, and standardizes this value by population. SWDH measures the daily incidence rate per 10,000 population using the following calculation: daily confirmed and probable cases are averaged over the two-week period. This value is divided by the county population, and then multiplied by 10,000 to find the daily incidence per 10,000.

[2] According to Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, “Long-term care facility means a nursing home, assisted living facility, or intermediate care facility. There are just over 400 long-term care facilities in Idaho. Outbreak means at least one lab-confirmed COVID-19-positive case associated with a facility.”

# # #

Media Contacts: 

Katrina Williams            Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov
Ashley Anderson          Ashley.Anderson@phd3.idaho.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Health alert levels for each county reassessed; increase in daily incidence rate noted in several counties

CALDWELL, IDAHO – Southwest District Health staff reassessed the health alert levels for each of its six counties based on data available for the date range of September 13, 2020 – September 26, 2020. Washington County and Gem County moved to the orange health alert level. Owyhee County moved to the gray health alert level. Payette County remains in the red health alert level. Adams County remains in the gray health alert level. Canyon County remains in the orange health alert level.

An increased daily incidence rate has been noted in several counties including Gem, Canyon, Washington, and Payette. The district-wide daily incidence rate per 10,000 is 1.67 based on the date range of September 13, 2020 – September 26, 2020.

Information included in determining county health alert levels is listed below.

ADAMS COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Gray

Adams County will remain in the gray health alert level due to a low COVID-19 incidence rate^[1]. Adams County saw a daily incidence rate of 0.340 per 10,000 people, which is decreasing. Due to the number of new cases and the nature of these cases, SWDH epidemiologists agree that the risk of COVID-19 is relatively low for the general Adams County community. Adams County has not seen any COVID-19 cases in schools, although some students are in quarantine due to family exposure. Because there are only two cases in Adams County this week, dashboard will be unavailable on the SWDH website. 

CANYON COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange

Canyon County will remain in the orange health alert level with a slightly increasing COVID-19 daily incidence rate, declining rate of cluster outbreaks, and stability in Canyon County healthcare systems. Canyon County has a daily incidence rate of 1.49 daily new cases per 10,000 people, which is trending up slightly. Only 58.8% of COVID-19 cases have reported knowing where they were exposed, which points to sustained community spread. SWDH investigators are seeing an increase in cases exposed through out of state travel. Twelve congregate living facilities are seeing cluster outbreaks^[1]. Additionally, multiple schools in Canyon County are seeing sporadic, imported cases of COVID-19 with no known outbreaks or transmission within schools.

GEM COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange

Gem County will move to the orange health alert level due to an increasing incidence rate, high hospitalization rate, and increased frequency of cluster outbreaks. Gem County currently has a daily incidence rate of 2.41 daily cases per 10,000 people, which increased dramatically. Gem County currently has a hospitalization rate of 15.38% for COVID-19 patients. Three congregate care facilities are facing sustained COVID-19 outbreaks. 66.67% of new cases that were contacted knew where they were exposed to COVID-19, which is trending up but still points to sustained community transmission. Multiple schools are seeing cluster outbreaks and transmission within the school.

OWYHEE COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Gray

Owyhee County will move to the gray health alert level due to a decreasing COVID-19 incidence rate, as well as all cluster outbreaks being a result of essential gatherings such as workplace or household exposure. Owyhee County currently has a daily incidence rate of 0.54 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is continuing to steadily decrease. Some Owyhee County schools are seeing imported cases of COVID-19 with no schools seeing cluster outbreaks. Staff and students are taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

PAYETTE COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Red

Payette County is to remain in the red health alert level due to an increasing COVID-19 incidence rate, as well as evidence of cluster outbreaks within schools. Payette County has a daily incidence rate of 3.19 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is increasing. Only 58.82% of confirmed cases know where they were exposed to COVID-19, which points to sustained community spread. SWDH epidemiologists are concerned by cluster outbreaks from essential gatherings such as local workplace settings and household clusters. Epidemiologists are also concerned with an increased frequency of cases exposed while traveling out of state. Multiple Payette County schools are seeing cluster outbreaks occurring within the schools. Additionally, many Payette County residents share their border communities with Oregon residents, who are also seeing uncontrolled outbreaks.

WASHINGTON COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange

Washington County will move to the orange health alert level due to an increasing daily incidence rate, increasing hospitalization rate and high positivity rate. Washington County currently has a daily incidence rate of 2.95 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing. The positivity rate for Washington County is 11.83%, which is increasing. The symptomatic rate for Washington County is 80% which is very low and points to widespread testing. Seeing a very high positivity rate and a low rate of symptomatic confirmed cases points to widespread infection. Washington County schools are currently seeing sporadic, imported cases with no transmission within their school.

SCHOOL DATA

In order to comply with appropriate privacy regulations and constraints, Southwest District Health does not release information on cases within schools on a school-specific or building-specific basis. Individual schools or school districts determine what information to release regarding cases based on legal counsel advice and constraints of privacy regulations.

The following county-level summary of COVID-19 cases in schools is available:

Adams:  Quarantine:  2
Canyon:  Isolation:  30, Quarantine:  200
Gem:  Isolation:  11, Quarantine:  115
Owyhee:  Isolation:  2 Quarantine:  13
Payette:  Isolation:  22 Quarantine:  153
Washington:  Isolation:  2  Quarantine:  1
Total:  Isolation:  67 Quarantine:  484

The number quarantined is reflective of the number of staff and students currently in quarantine on the day the data are pulled and may not account for individuals who have been released from quarantine or are just entering quarantine. Those in quarantine have been identified as a close contact of a positive case and are being asked to stay home for 14 days to monitor for symptoms.

The isolation cases represent those who are currently positive for COVID-19.  In addition, those who are on isolation are asked to isolate away from others for 10 days from onset of symptoms in order to prevent further infection.

Region 3 data are available on the Southwest District Health website at: https://swdh.id.gov/covid19/.  Please visit https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/ for statewide information. Questions may be directed to the SWDH COVID-19 Call Center Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 208-455-5411.

[1] The incidence rate measures how many cases occur each day, and standardizes this value by population. SWDH measures the daily incidence rate per 10,000 population using the following calculation: daily confirmed and probable cases are averaged over the two-week period. This value is divided by the county population, and then multiplied by 10,000 to find the daily incidence per 10,000.

[2] According to Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, “Long-term care facility means a nursing home, assisted living facility, or intermediate care facility. There are just over 400 long-term care facilities in Idaho. Outbreak means at least one lab-confirmed COVID-19-positive case associated with a facility.”

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Media Contacts: 

Katrina Williams            Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov
Ashley Anderson          Ashley.Anderson@phd3.idaho.gov