CENTRAL DISTRICT HEALTH PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY

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.
• 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.
• 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 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.

know what steps to take

The surge in COVID cases in Idaho and in Valley County mean that contact tracers are overloaded. This means that we all need to do our part. Knowing what steps to take after experiencing symptoms or having an exposure to a COVID-positive case can make all of the difference.

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