SE IDAHO – On July 14, EIPH’s Board of Health (BOH) adopted the COVID-19 Regional Response Plan for the eight-county region (Bonneville, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, and Teton Counties). The Plan is stratified by risk levels starting with a Minimal Risk/green level and escalating towards the Critical Risk/red level. Each level has its own metrics and mitigation strategies to reduce the impact of COVID-19. Different parts of EIPH’s region may be at different risk levels at any one time. A copy of the Plan, along with a chart indicating the Risk Level of each county including specific guidance for that level, can be found at www.EIPH.Idaho.gov.
When a location within the district advances to a higher level, the BOH convenes to determine which mitigation strategies need to be enacted to protect the health of the community. This evening, the BOH determined Bonneville County had escalated to the yellow or Moderate Risk level and issued an order for face coverings and other restrictions for the County. All other counties in our region, except for Bonneville and Teton Counties, are in the green or Minimal Risk level.
Research has shown that wearing face coverings can block and reduce the amount of respiratory droplets spread when a person talks, yells, sings, etc. This is particularly important as the virus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 can be spread for up to 48 hours before a person starts having symptoms. Health experts say the evidence is clear that face coverings can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and that the more people wearing them, the better.
Under the order (effective July 21, 2020): Social gatherings and events, both public and private, of more than 150 are prohibited. Also, every person in Bonneville County is required to wear a face covering that completely covers the person’s nose and mouth when the person is in a public place and other non-household members are present and physical distancing of 6 feet cannot be maintained.
A public place is defined as any place, indoor or outdoor, that is open to all members of the public without specific invitation, including but not necessarily limited to, retail, business establishments, government offices, medical, educational, arts and recreational institutions, outdoor public areas, including, but not limited to public parks, trails, streets, sidewalks, lines for entry, exit, or service, when a distance of at least six feet cannot be maintained from any non- household member.
Facial coverings are not required to be worn under the following circumstances:
• Children under the age of 2.
• Persons with medical conditions, mental health condition, or disability that prevent them from wearing a face covering. A person is not required to provide documentation demonstrating that the person cannot tolerate wearing a face covering.
• Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, or communicating with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.
• Persons, including on-duty law enforcement officers, for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines.
• Persons 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.
• Persons who are eating or drinking at a restaurant or other establishment that offers food or beverage service, so long as they are seated at a table and able to maintain a distance of 6 feet from persons who are not members of the same household or party as the person. This exemption does NOT apply to entry, exit, or other movement throughout the facility.