HomeMy Public PortalAbout3-CM Report Att 2 - CDH Advisory 11-17-2020C�'CENTRAL
' DISTRICT
HEALTH
PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY
SARS-CoV-2 [CO V I D-19]
cdh.idaho.gov/covid 1 cdc.gov/coronavirus
Public Health Advisory for Central District Health's Jurisdiction:
Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley Counties
Issued November 17, 2020
Background
COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is a serious, and sometimes deadly
illness. Central District Health (CDH) is seeing a significant increase in the number of cases being
reported among residents of all four counties served by CDH. Cases have quadrupled in the last
month and our healthcare systems are being impacted at this time. There is now such high
levels of COVID-19 within our communities, it is no longer possible for CDH to conduct disease
investigations and contact tracing for every person infected.
While many people infected with SARS-CoV-2 recover, and some have no symptoms at all, a
certain percent will end up with severe illness and require hospital care. This is not isolated to
just elderly and those with underlying health conditions. Residents of all ages within CDH's
counties have been hospitalized for COVID-19, including those under the age of 18. More
recently, we have seen three confirmed cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in
Children (MIS -C), a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the
heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. All three children had been
previously infected with SARS-CoV-2.
In order to support our hospitals so they can continue providing appropriate levels of care
for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients, and to protect the health of our citizens, CDH
is issuing the following strong recommendations to its entire jurisdiction which includes
Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley Counties:
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 service.
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o In Ada and Valley Counties, current public health orders apply and require the
wearing of masks/face coverings under the scenarios outlined in the section
above.
• Work from home.
• Minimize non -essential travel.
• Suspend visits to congregate living facilities.
• Avoid social gatherings, including among family members who do not live in your
household.
o In Ada County, the current public health order requires social gathering sizes to
be limited to 10 or fewer people; and other gatherings of more than 50 are
prohibited.
• 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.
o Per the CDC, health conditions that put a person 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 services.
• Places of worship implement 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 — takeout/carryout only. Close
at 10 pm.
• Gyms and other fitness or group exercise facilities/studios (e.g., spin, dance, yoga, pilates,
gymnastics) limit capacity to not more than 50%. Class instructors maintain a distance of
at least 6 feet from participants at all times.
Duration of Advisory
This advisory will remain in effect until a sustained two-week decline in cases within our health
district AND a two-week case rate of less than 30/100,000/day occur. If one of our three health
systems, St. Luke's, Saint Alphonsus, or the Boise VA Medical Center implement crisis standards
of care as authorized by the State of Idaho, this advisory will become a public health order and
may include additional restrictions.
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