FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COVID-19 Public Health Advisory Lifted for Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, and Washington Counties                                                       

CALDWELL, IDAHO – Southwest District Health has lifted the COVID-19 Public Health Advisory issued November 20, 2020 for the six-county jurisdiction of Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, and Washington Counties. The advisory was prompted by a continued surge in case counts, increasing demands on the healthcare system, and a backlog of cases that required public health investigators and contact tracers to prioritize incoming case work. The health advisory was not a mandate but instead included strong recommendations for individuals and businesses around personal behaviors and business operations.

Lifting the advisory is prompted by a decline in case counts, hospitalizations, and incidence rates in the majority of the counties across the six-county region. As of February 6, 2021, the daily district-wide incidence rate per 10,000 population is 2.22. Also, for the first time in months, all six counties are below the red health alert level.

As a reminder, all six counties in the district continue to experience community spread, which puts people living in and visiting these communities at higher risk for exposure. It is the goal of Southwest District Health to work our way back to a place where we have no community spread.

Thank you to our communities for continuing to do your part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our region. COVID-19 vaccines are just one of the tools we have to help return to pre-pandemic normal. Southwest District Health encourages everyone who lives, works, and plays in Southwest Idaho to follow the recommendations for the current health alert level in your respective county.

Questions may be directed to the SWDH COVID-19 Call Center Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 208-455-5411. Please refer to https://swdh.id.gov/covid19/ for the latest local numbers and data and https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/ for statewide information.

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Media Contacts: 

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

Public Health Advisory

CYANOBACTERIA PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY LIFTED FOR BROWNLEE RESERVOIR

 Southwest District Health, in conjunction with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), has lifted the Cyanobacteria Health Advisory for Brownlee Reservoir issued on July 10, 2020 and amended on July 31, 2020. The initial health advisory was issued July 10, 2020 for the area of Woodhead Park. An amended health advisory was issued July 31, 2020 to expand the advisory for the entire reservoir.

DEQ officials monitor cyanobacteria and associated toxins where harmful algal blooms (HABs) are present and have confirmed that cyanobacteria levels at Brownlee Reservoir have returned to normal and toxin levels are below the safety threshold.

Other blooms may exist on this waterbody that have not been reported to DEQ or the health district. Water users should always exercise caution around water bodies with visible slime or surface scum or a foul odor. High concentrations of toxin-producing cyanobacteria may cause illness to both humans and animals. Report any concerns to DEQ at 208.373.0550.

For more information about harmful algal blooms, visit DEQ’s website at http://www.deq.idaho.gov/water-quality/surface-water/blue-green-algae/.

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Chase Cusack, DEQ                       208.373.0550               Chase.Cusack@deq.idaho.gov
Katrina Williams, SWDH                208.455.5317               Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Southwest District Health Issues COVID-19 Public Health Advisory for Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, and Washington Counties

Advisory now in effect

CALDWELL, IDAHO – Southwest District Health has issued a COVID-19 Public Health Advisory for the entire six-county jurisdiction of Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, and Washington Counties. The Advisory, which took effect immediately, is prompted by the continued surge in case counts, increasing demands on the healthcare system, and a backlog of cases that have required public health investigators and contact tracers to prioritize incoming case work.

The surge in cases can be seen in the graph below. The graph illustrates the seven-day rolling average of confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases within the six-county region, available on the Southwest District Health data dashboard.

Southwest District Health has identified the top 5 exposure sources, based on data reported through October 23, 2020. TOP 5 EXPOSURE SOURCES: Congregate Living (Senior Living Facilities, Correctional Facilities, College Dormitories), Traditional Household (Single Family homes or Roommates), Travel (Primarily local (in state) travel in a car), Community Events (Primarily religious services and sporting events), and Social Events (Primarily parties and family gatherings). The data is illustrated in the bubble chart below.

Unlike public health orders, a health advisory is not a mandate, but instead, an advisement to the community regarding a significant public health risk, and includes associated strong recommendations for action. All residents are strongly advised to follow guidance provided in Governor Little’s Modified Stage 2 Stay Healthy Order.

The Public Health Advisory includes strong recommendations for individuals and businesses around personal behaviors and business operations. The advisory aims to ensure healthcare capacity so our loved ones and neighbors can continue to access the routine, urgent, and emergency medical care they need as well as the public health capacity to ensure close contacts are notified of their exposure, rapid testing is available to our high-risk populations, and once available, vaccine can be distributed and administered.

The advisory includes the following health and safety measures:

Individuals

• Wear a face covering at all times around anyone who is not a member of your household when physical distancing of at least 6 feet cannot be maintained. The only exceptions are for children younger than age 2, people who have trouble breathing, people who cannot remove the mask without assistance, or people who are obtaining a service involving the nose, face, or head for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the services.
• Work from home, if possible.
• Minimize non-essential
• Suspend visits to congregate living facilities.
• Avoid social gatherings, including among family members who do not live in your household.
  • Per Governor Little’s Modified Stage 2 Stay Healthy Order, the current public health order requires social gathering sizes to be limited to 10 or fewer people.
• Anyone age 65 and older, or who smokes, or with a health condition that puts them at risk for severe outcomes, avoid close contact with anyone other than immediate household members except for necessary services, such as accessing healthcare.
  • Per the CDC, health conditions that put a person at a high risk include:
    • Chronic kidney disease,
    • COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease),
    • Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies, Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant, Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m² or higher but < 40 kg/m²), Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²), Pregnancy, Sickle cell disease and Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Outings/Activities/Places of Business

• Businesses implement delivery/curb-side
• Places of worship implement hybrid (in-person and virtual) or virtual services
• Discontinue youth and adult sports/activities in which physical distancing is not possible
• Discontinue school extracurricular activities of all types in which physical distancing cannot be maintained AND where physical distancing can be maintained but the activity requires increased breathing, such as choir and band.
• Bars, restaurants, breweries/taprooms/wineries/distilleries – all patrons must remain seated while consuming food or drink or when otherwise remaining on the premises, except for when entering, exiting, or using the restroom; seating must be arranged so that tables are spaced at least six feet apart; and nightclubs may continue to operate as a bar but must comply with the requirements of the Stage 2 Stay Healthy Order.

Duration of Advisory

This advisory will remain in effect until a county has met requirements to return to the orange health alert level. This is typically indicated by a two-week case rate of less than 3.0/10,000 daily new cases along with other factors. If one of the three large hospitals, St. Luke’s, Saint Alphonsus, or West Valley Medical Center implement crisis standards of care as authorized by the State of Idaho, this advisory may include additional recommendations.

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.  Please refer to https://swdh.id.gov/covid19/ for the latest local numbers and data and https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/ for statewide information. To view SWDH’s Fall and Winter Holiday Guidance, visit https://swdh.id.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Fall-Winter-Guidance-Final-11.16.2020.pdf.

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Media Contacts: 

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

Public Health Advisory

CYANOBACTERIA PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY LIFTED FOR LAKE LOWELL

Southwest District Health, in conjunction with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), has lifted the Cyanobacteria Health Advisory for Lake Lowell. The advisory was issued September 4, 2020.

DEQ officials monitor cyanobacteria and associated toxins where harmful algal blooms (HABs) are present and have confirmed that cyanobacteria levels at Lake Lowell have returned to normal and toxin levels are below the safety threshold.

Other blooms may exist on this waterbody that have not been reported to DEQ or the health district. Water users should always exercise caution around water bodies with visible slime or surface scum or a foul odor. High concentrations of toxin-producing cyanobacteria may cause illness to both humans and animals. Report any concerns to DEQ at 208.373.0550.

For more information about harmful algal blooms, visit DEQ’s website at http://www.deq.idaho.gov/water-quality/surface-water/blue-green-algae/.

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DEQ Media Contact

Emily Washburne              208.373.0550             Emily.Washburne@deq.idaho.gov

SWDH Media Contact

Katrina Williams                208.455.5317              Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov

Photo of CJ Strike Reservoir Harmful Algal Bloom Credit: Idaho DEQ

Public Health Advisory

September 18, 2020

Health advisory issued for CJ Strike Reservoir in Owyhee/Elmore Counties; Cascade Reservoir in Valley County being monitored

Central District Health (CDH), Southwest District Health (SWDH), and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) have issued a health advisory for CJ Strike Reservoir due to the presence of a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB). CJ Strike has access points in both Owyhee and Elmore Counties.

Recent water samples taken by DEQ indicate that concentrations of toxin-producing cyanobacteria are present in the CJ Strike Reservoir. These cyanobacteria can be harmful to humans and animals, and those with liver or kidney damage are at an increased risk of illness.

Surface water experts have also recently sampled Cascade Reservoir in Valley County for a potential HAB. While test results came back as below the threshold for issuing a health advisory, the reservoir is seeing increased levels of microcystin (a type of cyanotoxin) that warrant users to take precautions. DEQ will continue to monitor Cascade Reservoir.

Cyanobacteria are a natural part of Idaho’s water bodies. When temperatures rise, their populations can bloom and toxic chemical compounds, or cyanotoxins, can be released into the water. Blooms can vary in appearance, and may look like mats, foam, spilled paint, or surface scum, and have a foul odor.

While blooms can be discovered in one area of recreational water, they can move around to different areas, water depths, and can change in severity. HABs are most common in the summer months through the fall.

When recreating near or in any surface water with a health advisory in effect, take the following precautions for yourself and pets:

• Avoid swimming, wading, or other activities. Take extra precautions to ensure children, pets, and livestock are not exposed to the water.
• Do not drink or cook with water containing a bloom. Boiling and filtering the water can increase the risk.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after handling fish caught in water experiencing a bloom. Cyanotoxins can accumulate in fish and the risk to people is being researched. Any fish caught should be cleaned and washed thoroughly in uncontaminated water and any internal organs disposed of before consumption. If people choose to eat fish from this area, filet the fish and remove all of the fat, skin, and organs before cooking.
• Clean with potable water as soon as possible if water contacts skin or pet fur.

Symptoms of Cyanotoxin Exposure

Symptoms of cyanotoxin exposure include rashes, hives, diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, and/or wheezing. More severe symptoms affecting the liver and nervous system may result from ingesting water. If symptoms persist, consult your healthcare provider. Wash your pet with clean water and shampoo if it has been around a harmful algal bloom. If it shows symptoms such as vomiting, staggering, drooling or convulsions, contact your vet immediately.

More Information / How to Report a Potential Harmful Algal Bloom

The public will be advised when water testing indicates a HAB is no longer likely to be a concern at CJ Strike Reservoir.

For information on cyanobacteria blooms 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/.

CJ Strike Reservoir has access points in both Elmore and Owyhee counties. CDH’s jurisdiction includes Elmore County; SWDH’s jurisdiction includes Owyhee County. Valley County’s Cascade Reservoir is located exclusively within CDH’s jurisdiction. For additional photos for download and use, please visit the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/s4of5x6am9zju5b/AAAHSZ2nZPg0w841u735jyepa?dl=0

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Central District Health Media Contact

Christine Myron                208.871.1712               cmyron@cdh.idaho.gov

Southwest District Health Media Contact

Katrina Williams                208.455.5317              Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov