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IDAHO FALLS – Another county has reached the critical risk level of the Eastern Idaho Public Health COVID-19 Regional Response Plan.
The health district announced Thursday that Bonneville County has moved to the most severe level after reaching the metric of 45 active COVID-19 cases per 10,000 people for three consecutive days. Bonneville joins Lemhi, Madison and Teton counties in the critical risk category.
“When we get this level of community spread in our area, across our health district, every time you step outside your home you put yourself at risk of contracting COVID-19,” said Geri Rackow, director of the EIPH, at a Board of Health Meeting Thursday. “That is why, once again, we ask everyone to maintain physical estrangement from others as much as possible outside of your immediate home and, when that cannot happen, to wear a face covering as we know this slows down the spread.
The critical risk level indicates an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases. Bonneville recorded 93 new cases on Thursday to bring the total of confirmed and probable cases to 6,644 since mid-March. The county currently has 591 active cases and 55 deaths, nine of which have been reported since Monday.
A case is considered likely if a person has not been tested, or if a test is pending, and the person has all symptoms of COVID-19, has come into direct contact with an infected person and has developed symptoms within the expected time.
The response plan explains that if a statewide ordinance and a local public health ordinance are in effect at the same time – which is due to the Little government bringing Idaho back to an amended Stage 2 of its Plan to reopen Idaho Rebounds – more restrictive guidelines must be followed unless exemptions are allowed.
“We all need to play a role in slowing this virus down before our community is taken to extremes to not be able to provide care and maintain the essential services that we all expect as a society,” Rackow said.
Jefferson County was also raised to the high risk level on Thursday, and Custer County was raised to the moderate risk level. Downgrading occurs when a county has been below the threshold for 14 consecutive days.
In order to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and influenza, EIPH recommends that Idahoans:
- Keep at least six feet between yourself and others in public
- Wear face masks in public places
- Stay home if you are sick
- Wash your hands often
- Cover coughs and sneezes
- Regularly disinfect surfaces and objects
The current count of COVID-19 cases, details on all cases and much more can be found on the EIPH website and dashboard at www.EIPH.Idaho.gov. You can answer questions by calling (208) 522-0310 or toll free at (855) 533-3160 (Monday to Friday, 8-5), sending an email to [email protected] or via the EIPH Facebook page at @EIPH .Idaho.
For more information on COVID-19, click here.
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