Kootenai County, ID: Today a meeting occurred between Panhandle Health District, the Office of Emergency Management and all the hospitals and health care organizations within Kootenai County. The discussion centered on what can be done to better protect the citizens of Kootenai County. Looking at case studies around the world, the lessons learned show us that social distancing is the best method to combat COVID-19.
Social distancing is the public health practice of encouraging people to keep their physical distance from each other during disease outbreaks in order to slow the spread of infection. The purpose of social distancing is to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to lessen the impact on society, especially on the medical care system.
Now if you begin to show symptoms associated with COVID-19 (cough, fever and difficulty breathing), ensure you self-isolate. If you are tested for COVID-19, ensure that you self-isolate until you receive your test results. The importance of self-isolating cannot be stressed enough. However, when the symptoms subside you need to continue to self-isolate for an additional 72 hours before removing yourself from isolation. Please adhere to these guidelines to help end the transmission of this virus.
Many cities in Kootenai County have enacted emergency ordinances that close drinking establishments and limit food services to delivery, take out or drive up services all in an effort to promote social distancing.
It is imperative that we follow these guidelines so we can get ahead of this crisis.
Unified Commanders
Sheriff Ben Wolfinger
Chief Chris Way