Idaho communities brace for potential coronavirus exposure

Gov. Brad Little to address threat during Wednesday press conference

With more and more diagnosed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) being reported in the U.S. every day, communities across Idaho are preparing for a possible outbreak.

The threat of exposure has become so immediate that Idaho Gov. Brad Little plans to host a press conference regarding the coronavirus on Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Governor’s Ceremonial Office in Boise. Representatives from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the Idaho Office of Emergency Management will be on hand to respond to media questions regarding Idaho’s response and preparedness to a potential novel coronavirus outbreak.

As of Monday, there have been no confirmed cases of the illness in Idaho, but this is not the situation in neighboring Washington.

Health officials reported on Monday that a total of six individuals have died in Kirkland, Wash., after contracting the disease and 18 have been officially diagnosed throughout the state. Five of the six who perished were in their ’70s and ’80s, and four of them suffered from underlying health conditions before contracting the virus.

Steps are already being taken across the state in areas where there could have been possible exposure. Schools in Genessee and Troy were closed Monday as a precautionary measure after Jackson High School (Mill Creek, Wash.) students were allowed to stay in Genessee School as part of a University of Idaho Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival tradition.

Jackson High has a student with an unconfirmed case of coronavirus, but that student was not part of the group that stayed in Genessee.

The closest that confirmed cases of the coronavirus have gotten to Idaho is Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane — where four patients were sent to be quarantined and treated last week. Two have since been released and are recovering at home.

Sacred Heart Medical Center is one of 10 hospitals in the country that host a special pathogens unit (Region 10) and are equipped to handle situations such as these.

If the virus does make its way to Idaho, residents should be taking proper precautions to avoid getting it. Since there is no vaccine at this time, the Center for Disease Control recommends following the same rules that one would follow for not catching the cold or flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue.

• Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily (e.g., tables, counter tops, light switches, doorknobs and cabinet handles) using a regular household detergent and water.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.

According to the CDC, the most common way of the virus spreading is through respiratory droplets — when someone with the virus coughs or sneezes, and you breathe it in. Most often, you need to be close to the person (within 6 feet) for it to spread this way.

It might be possible to get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching your own mouth, nose or possibly your eyes. But this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

If you or someone you know suspects that they may have the illness, the CDC asks that you stay at home (except to get medical care), separate yourself from other people and animals, and call your doctor. In an effort to contain the virus, do not go to the emergency room unless it is essential. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs.

The World Health Organization states that common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

Novel 2019 coronavirus is believed to have stemmed from a market in Wuhan, China, in December.