CALDWELL, Idaho — Southwest District Health (SWDH) announced Friday they have lifted the COVID-19 public health advisory. The advisory was first issued on November 20, 2020, for its jurisdiction of Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette and Washington Counties.
The health advisory was not a mandate but had strong recommendations for personal behavior and business operations. The advisory was issued after a surge in case counts, demands on the healthcare system and a backlog of cases.
A news release from SWDH says the lift is prompted by a decline in case counts, hospitalizations and incidence rates in the majority of counties. As of February 6, the daily incidence rate per 10,000 population is 2.22, according to the release. This is the first time in six months that all six counties are below the red health alert level.
Community spread is still happening in all six counties, which puts people living and visiting the area at higher risk for exposure. The vaccine for COVID-19 is limited at this time and people should continue wearing face masks, social distancing, washing their hands often and staying home if they are sick.
If you have any questions, SWDH has a COVID-19 call center available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The number for that is 208-455-5411.
