FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Case surges overwhelm public health efforts across Idaho

IDAHO – South Central Public Health District, Central District Health, Southwest District Health, and the Panhandle Health District warn case surges in the last month have created backlogs and delays for their disease investigation teams, making it impossible to contact all new reported cases or those individual’s close-contacts.

Disease investigation remains a top priority for public health. However, as cases have flooded into the state, tripling daily averages in some districts, public health is asking for the community’s help.

“We are committed to doing our part in public health,” said Katherine Hoyer, Public Information Officer at Panhandle Health District. “But the reality we are facing is that levels of community transmission are making the critical work of investigation and contact tracing diluted. Simply put, we need the cooperation of our community members to do all they can to reduce their risk and protect themselves, their loved ones and fellow community members,” said Hoyer.

With the latest surge in cases, some health districts have been forced to prioritize investigative calls by age, to ensure they are reaching the people most at risk for severe symptoms and those most likely to spread the disease.

Because of the backlogs, public health districts report a growing number of people are not getting a call from their offices and urge anyone who is awaiting a test result or who receives a positive test result to take their own proactive measures to protect themselves and those around them.

“We have to rely on everyone we don’t speak with to act responsibly on their own. That means isolating while waiting for test results and, if positive, warning all of their close-contacts that they need to quarantine right away,” said Doug Doney, Acting Director for SWDH.

Anyone awaiting a test result should:

• Stay home and monitor your health – stay away from others in your household whenever possible. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath or other symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.
• Think about the people you have recently been around and in what environments.
• Answer the phone call from the health department if they are able to reach out to you.
• Helpful Resource: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/php/318271-A_FS_KeyStepsWhenWaitingForCOVID-19Results_3.pdf

If you test positive you should:

• Stay home except to get medical care; do not visit public places.
• Take care of yourself – get rest, stay hydrated.
• Stay in touch with your doctor – seek care if you have any emergency warning signs or if you think it’s an emergency.
• Contact those with whom you have had close contact with to let them know they may have been exposed to COVID-19.
• Avoid public transportation, ride-sharing or taxis.
• Helpful Resource: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/index.html

In the Panhandle Health District, over 100 cases are coming in daily, the testing positivity and the testing demand continue to increase. The District is in a difficult position and cannot sustainably have staff continue to work after-hours. This is compounded by a stressful work environment where the public is, at times, resistant to the District’s help.

Due to the increased amount of daily cases that the District is receiving, they are focusing on case investigation by contacting those who tested positive and asking them to follow-up with their close contacts. This will allow staff to contact additional cases in a timely manner, but close contacts of those cases will not be called by PHD. This is temporary and normal case investigation and contact tracing will resume when they are able.

“We are able to report over 100 cases per day, but that is only what we are able to get into data entry,” said Hoyer. “Some days there may be double that amount of cases and our staff is struggling to just keep our heads above water. We want the public to have an accurate idea of what is occurring in our community while sustaining a modified case investigation.”

In South Central Public Health District, more than three times the number of cases were reported in October compared to any other month so far. Investigators are clearing about 300 cases a week, but receiving well over a thousand. Since Monday, November 2nd, SCPHD has received more than 200 cases reported each day.

“Our actions have consequences. We need to focus on our common goals; keep people healthy, keep businesses and schools open, and keep our hospitals running,” said Melody Bowyer, SCPHD Director. “To do that, we need to work together to bring our cases down.”

In Southwest District Health, this week SWDH has averaged 200 new cases reported a day. The more new cases means the less monitoring or close contact investigations we can complete. On average, we have more than doubled and nearly tripled our caseload with no increase in staffing.

“We desperately need the community’s help to dial back the numbers. The investigations team is doing our very best to keep up with the demand, including working overtime, but with the drastic increase in positive cases in such a short time, we need the help of the public to try to keep the cases down.” said Jaime Aanensen, Environmental and Community Health Division Administrator.

In Central District Health, cases related to long-term care facilities and schools are receiving priority for investigation and contact tracing among the latest surge in cases. This week, Ada County will well surpass a record 1,500 cases reported in one week, set back in July. CDH’s more rural counties are also seeing troubling increases. CDH is asking its residents to consider the things they are doing outside of their homes and take all steps to avoid any unnecessary risks.

“Reduce trips to the store, limit contact with people outside of your household, and be vigilant about wearing a mask and keeping distance from others. These sacrifices are critical to getting back to a more manageable case rate for our communities and protecting our most vulnerable residents,” said Russ Duke, District Director for Central District Health.

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More information:

South Central Public Health District
Counties: Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Twin Falls 
Contact Brianna Bodily, Public Information Officer, bbodily@phd5.idaho.gov
COVID-19 hotlines: Spanish (208) 737-5965, English (208) 737-1138.
Data, guidance, and resources: https://phd5.idaho.gov/coronavirus

Central District Health
Counties: Ada, Boise, Elmore, Valley
Contact: Christine Myron, Public Information Officer, cmyron@cdh.idaho.gov
COVID-19 hotline: (208) 321-2222
Data, guidance, and resources: https://www.cdh.idaho.gov/covid

Southwest District Health
Counties: Adams, Washington, Payette, Gem, Canyon, Owyhee  
Contact: Ashley Anderson, Public Information Officer, ashley.anderson@phd3.idaho.gov
COVID-19 hotline: (208) 455-5411
Data, guidance, and resources: https://www.phd3.idaho.gov/covid19

Panhandle Health District
Counties: Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, Benewah, Shoshone
Contact: Katherine Hoyer, Public Information Officer, khoyer@phd1.idaho.gov
COVID-19 hotline: 877-415-5225
Data, guidance, and resources: www.panhandlehealthdistrict.org/COVID-19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Payette County moved from health alert level red; Multiple counties at health alert level orange

CALDWELL, IDAHO – Daily incidence rates continue to increase across the majority of the district. Based on data available for October 18, 2020 – October 31, 2020, Adams County and Owyhee County have moved from the yellow alert level to the orange alert level. Payette County was moved from the red alert level to the orange alert level. The remaining counties’ health alert levels are the same. The information used in determining county health alert levels is listed below.

ADAMS COUNTY – Health Alert Level: Orange
Adams County will move to the orange health alert level, with many new cases of COVID-19 reported between October 18, 2020 and October 31, 2020. Adams County had an incidence rate of 5.55 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. Most individuals who have contracted COVID-19 can determine where they were exposed to the virus. At the moment, this shows community spread is rare in Adams County. 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 and an increasing rate of cluster outbreaks from community gatherings. Canyon County has a daily incidence rate of 3.96 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is trending up. Only 59.9% 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 social and community gatherings. Canyon County will move to a higher alert level if we continue to see key metrics trending up. Ten congregate living facilities are seeing cluster outbreaks. Some healthcare facilities in Canyon County are nearing capacity for inpatient and ICU bed and have concerns about critical care staffing. 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 a slightly increasing incidence rate and increasing positivity rate. Gem County is close to the orange alert level, with a daily incidence rate of 2.49 daily cases per 10,000 people. One congregate care facility in Gem County is facing a sustained COVID-19 outbreak. 60.49% 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: Orange
Owyhee County will move to the orange health alert level, due to an increasing COVID-19 daily incidence rate, very high positivity rate, and evidence of community spread. Owyhee County currently has a daily incidence rate of 2.48 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing. Half of all cases do not know where they were exposed to COVID-19, which is very concerning and points to sustained community spread. Additionally, the test positivity rate is 18.45% which shows that COVID-19 is more prevalent in the community than our data show. SWDH epidemiologists are seeing cluster outbreaks from social gatherings and businesses. 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: Orange
Payette County will move to the orange health alert level, due to a decreasing COVID-19 daily incidence rate, as well as a decreasing positivity rate. Payette County has a daily incidence rate of 3.13 daily new cases per 10,000 people which is decreasing for the second consecutive week. Only 39.08% 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 and households. Payette County has a test positivity rate of 11.86%, which is decreasing but still very high. Payette County has made progress in controlling COVID-19 within their community and we hope to continue to see improvements in many key metrics, such as incidence rate, known source, and positivity rate. Many Payette County schools are seeing sporadic, imported cases of COVID-19 with transmission occurring within one school.

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 4.50 daily cases per 10,000 people, which is increasing. The positivity rate for Washington County is 9.32%, which is decreasing but still much higher than we would like to see. 65.57% of confirmed cases know where they were exposed to COVID-19, which is improving but still points to sustained community spread. SWDH epidemiologists are seeing transmission occurring from travel or out-of-town guests visiting residents of Washington County. Multiple Washington County schools are seeing cluster outbreaks with transmission occurring within schools. Additionally, we are seeing an increase in total hospitalizations in Washington County which is decreasing hospital capacity. Elective surgeries are being cancelled or postponed to remedy this.

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 25, 2020 and October 31, 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.

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Media Contacts: 

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