FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICTS ISSUE GUIDANCE FOR MASS GATHERINGS AND PUBLIC EVENTS

CALDWELL, IDAHO – Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the seven local Public Health Districts have developed guidance for event and venue managers to assist with decisions regarding mass gatherings and public events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Idaho public health experts, the Department of Health and Welfare and all local Public Health Districts, will support any decision made by a venue or event manager to postpone or cancel mass gatherings and public events. For the purpose of this guidance, mass gatherings and events are defined as a public gathering for business, social, academic or recreational activities including, but not limited to, community, civic, public, educational, leisure, or sporting events; parades; concerts; festivals; conventions; fundraisers; and similar activities.

Idaho public health experts recommend postponing or canceling mass gatherings and public events in any of the following situations:

• The event will draw audiences or participants from communities, states, or countries with confirmed community spread of COVID-19 disease. Your local public health district can assist you in making this determination.
• The event will be held indoors and bring together more than 250 individuals where social distancing of 6 feet or more is unlikely or not possible.
• The event’s primary audience includes or may expose high-risk populations, including adults over the age of 60 years and people with underlying chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes, regardless of the number of attendees.

Idaho public health experts recommend event and venue managers consider using virtual gatherings (e.g., webinar, video conferencing, live stream, etc.) as a mechanism to minimize the risk of COVID-19 exposure to the general public and vulnerable populations, when possible.

Idaho public health experts recommend that facilities housing large numbers of people (such as long-term care facilities, jails and corrections, shelters, etc.) implement policies now to minimize risk to their populations by limiting visitors, providing proper handwashing and hygiene facilities for staff, visitors and residents and enhancing screening for staff and visitors for symptoms of COVID-19.

Symptoms of COVID-19 generally include flu-like symptoms, a fever of 100.4°F or higher and/or respiratory infection symptoms including cough and shortness of breath.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. We all must takes steps now to protect ourselves and others, including washing hands often, practicing social distancing–-keeping 6 feet between you and others, staying home if you are sick, covering coughs and sneezes, wearing a facemask only if you are sick, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces with bleach wipes or a sanitizing spray.

For more information and more details about novel coronavirus, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html

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Media Contact:
Katrina Williams
Southwest District Health
Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov
(208) 455-5317 or (208) 899-1268

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                          

SOUTHWEST DISTRICT HEALTH CHANGES CALL CENTER HOURS

CALDWELL, IDAHO – Effective Monday, March 9, 2020 the hours for the Southwest District Health Coronavirus (COVID-19) call center will be changed to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.  The call center began taking calls on Wednesday, March 4 at 8 a.m. and as of March 5^th at 8 p.m. had handled 73 calls. The nature of the calls was primary travel related questions.

Southwest District Health continues to closely monitor the rapidly changing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. There are no confirmed novel coronavirus cases in Idaho and the risk to the Idaho public is still believed to be low. However, this virus is likely to spread to new areas including our region.

Everyone can make an effort to keep themselves healthy by:

• Washing hands often with soap and water
• Avoiding touching eyes, mouth, or nose with unwashed hands
• Keeping a distance of at least six feet from people who appear to have respiratory illness
• Covering your coughs with a tissue or coughing into your elbow
• Cleaning often touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaning spray or wipes.

For more information and more details about novel coronavirus, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html

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Media Contact:
Katrina Williams
Southwest District Health
Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov
(208) 455-5317 or (208) 899-1268

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHWEST DISTRICT HEALTH SETS UP CALL CENTER TO ANSWER CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) CALLS

CALDWELL, IDAHO – Southwest District Health (SWDH) is closely monitoring the rapidly changing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. Staff are working with state agencies, other public health districts, and healthcare providers around the state, and are prepared to respond when someone is sick with COVID-19 or has been exposed. To help handle the increasing volume of calls from concerned citizens, Southwest District Health staff and Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers will set up a call center beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, March 4, 2020. The call center will operate between the hours of 8am and 8pm, Monday through Friday, and can be reached at (208) 455-5411.

There are no confirmed novel coronavirus cases in Idaho and the risk to the Idaho public is still believed to be low. However, this virus is likely to spread to new areas including our region. “Many people don’t realize that the virus causing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is different than the typical coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans. The same precautions should be taken to avoid any coronaviruses and other respiratory diseases such as the flu,” said Southwest District Health Epidemiologist Cheryl Craig.

Everyone can make an effort to keep themselves healthy by:

• Washing hands often with soap and water
• Avoiding touching eyes, mouth, or nose with unwashed hands
• Keeping a distance of at least six feet from people who appear to have respiratory illness
• Covering your coughs with a tissue or coughing into your elbow
• Cleaning often touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaning spray or wipes.

If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, contact your regular doctor first. The medical provider can suggest precautions to help reduce the spread of your illness at the medical facility.

For more information and more details about novel coronavirus, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html

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Media Contact:
Katrina Williams
Southwest District Health
Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov
(208) 455-5317 or (208) 899-1268

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Human West Nile Virus Cases Identified in Washington County

Health Officials Encourage Taking Precautions

Mosquitoes trapped in Owyhee County have tested positive for West Nile virus. The mosquitoes carrying the virus were trapped south of Homedale. This area is not located inside a mosquito abatement district.

Canyon, Gem, Elmore, and Twin Falls counties have also reported positive WNV results in some of their mosquito traps.

Residents are encouraged to take extra precautions to avoid being bitten. Precautions include draining any standing water on your property and wearing repellent when outdoors.

West Nile virus is a potentially serious illness that is usually spread to animals and humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Although most infections do not cause symptoms, one out of five who become infected with West Nile virus show symptoms such as fever, headaches, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph nodes, or a skin rash. These symptoms can last for only a few days, or may last for several weeks. Symptoms typically occur from 2 to 14 days after the bite from an infected mosquito. There is no specific treatment, but in more severe cases, people usually need hospitalization.

For more information on West Nile visit https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/prevention/index.html
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Media Contact:
Katrina Williams
Southwest District Health
Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov
(208) 455-5317

Mosquitoes in Adams and Washington Counties Test Positive for West Nile Virus

Mosquitoes trapped in Adams County and Washington County have tested positive for West Nile virus. The mosquitoes carrying the virus in Adams County were trapped in Fruitvale and Indian Valley. The mosquitos trapped in Washington County were trapped near the north side of Weiser. These areas are not located inside a mosquito abatement district.

Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, and Payette counties have also reported positive WNV results in some of their mosquito traps.

Residents are encouraged to take extra precautions to avoid being bitten. Precautions include draining any standing water on your property and wearing repellent when outdoors.

West Nile virus is a potentially serious illness that is usually spread to animals and humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Although most infections do not cause symptoms, one out of five who become infected with West Nile virus show symptoms such as fever, headaches, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph nodes, or a skin rash. These symptoms can last for only a few days, or may last for several weeks. Symptoms typically occur from 2 to 14 days after the bite from an infected mosquito. There is no specific treatment, but in more severe cases, people usually need hospitalization.

For more information on West Nile visit  https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/prevention/index.html

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