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‘This is Invisible. It’s Not a Flood. It’s Not a Fire.’
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Leslie Silva captured this portrait of Lynn Bockemohle and his wife Sharon enjoying the symphony at the Sun Valley Pavilion this past summer. Lynn Bockemohle passed away on Thursday, one of Idaho’s first victims of the coronavirus.
 
 
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Saturday, March 28, 2020
 

STORY BY KAREN BOSSICK

PHOTO BY LESLIE SILVA

A checker at Atkinsons Market wore a plastic shield covering her face as she waited on a steady stream of customers Friday.

And representatives for Albertsons promised that they were installing plexiglass barriers, or sneeze guards, at checkout stands in all Albertson’s stores after one Blaine County resident complained that she couldn’t tell they were doing anything to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

As Idaho recorded its fourth death due to the coronavirus, officials at the Boise-based chain said they were also putting in more signage to remind people to social-distance themselves and laying down social-distancing tape on the floor at checkout stands to remind people to stand two shopping carts apart.

The number of coronavirus cases in Idaho surpassed 200 on Friday climbing to 234. And the number of cases in Blaine County continued to climb--from 86 to 98.

Nez Perce County in northern Idaho recorded Idaho’s fourth death—that of a man over 80 with additional health issues. And Canyon County officials announced they now have community spread, along with Blaine and Ada counties.

Meanwhile, the first case was reported in Lincoln County--that of a male over 70 who has been hospitalized.

The number of cases in Idaho has gone up five times since a week ago on March 21 when the state just had 42 cases.

GETTING TOUGH:

Blaine County, Ketchum, Bellevue and Hailey officials have all approved more stringent self-isolation orders than those imposed by the Idaho governor in an effort to slow the spread in Blaine County, which is the epicenter of coronavirus in Idaho.

Sun Valley is expected to vote on stricter regulations April 2.

The restrictions include halting all construction beginning Monday, March 30, through at least through April 12,  restricting travel in and out of Blaine County, halting landscaping work, restricting plumbers and electricians to emergency work only and restricting hotels and short-term rentals from offering lodging except to health care and government workers and non-residents who are self-isolating.

It may be a hard task. Anyone who poked their head in some valley supermarkets on Friday would have been hard-pressed to know anything was amiss. They were pretty busy for a community that’s supposed to be emptying public spaces to keep from filling hospitals. avoid

Stricter measures must be enacted on an emergency basis due to the imminent peril posed by the further spread of the COVID-19 virus, Blaine County’s ordinance says.

Blaine County Commissioner Angenie McCleary voted against the stricter restrictions, saying she was concerned about landscapers and builders being out of work.

“The economic impacts also affect health and mental health,” she said.

But Commissioner Dick Fosbury said he was concerned about the local hospital being stretched past its limits if more isn’t done to stop the spread of the disease, which is twice as contagious as seasonal  influenza and more deadly.

Already, St. Luke’s Wood River is transporting anyone needing admission to hospital facilities in Twin Falls and Boise. Its inpatient status is currently suspended, but the hospital hopes to change that soon, according to Mike Fenello, vice president of Population Health. But, even then, it will be at least a few weeks before things turn around in the county, health officials caution.

County and city officials received a heavy stream of comments supporting and opposing tighter  restrictions. Fosbury acknowledged that the new measures will cause some anxiety and hardship, at least temporarily. But, he added, the county is not making progress with controlling the spread of the virus.

“We need to take this step. This is invisible. It’s not a flood where you can see the river rising. It’s not a fire where you can see the spread,” he said.

Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution freeing up $40,000 in funding to help fund ambulances and decontamination equipment.

Commissioners noted that they will not put up barriers across the highway to keep people from leaving or entering the county. But they will trust people to do the right thing and stay in place in their home county.

NIMBY:

Counties throughout southern Idaho are trying to grapple with the influx of people from other counties who apparently have decided that lay-offs and school shutdowns provide an opportunity to go steelhead fishing in Custer County or driving off-road in Owyhee County.

The mayor of Stanley confirmed his town’s first coronavirus case this week, noting that he’s seen plenty of cars with 5B license plates around town.

Forest Service officials closed Boise National Forest on Thursday to protect communities like Garden Valley and Idaho City that are in close proximity to forest lands from an influx of people flocking to hot springs and camping sites.

And the Idaho Statesman reports that Owyhee County officials are begging recreationalists to stay away after being overrun. Off-road vehicle users have been causing damage to the landscape that officials say could take years to rectify. They’re also getting stuck on snow-covered roads, putting local first responders at risk.

The City of Chicago has begun citing those who do not follow the rules about social distancing with a $500 fine.

FEDERAL AID TO THE RESCUE:

Gov. Little has signed an executive order moving $39.3 million from the tax relief fund to a state emergency fund, making it easier for health care workers to buy test kits and personal protective equipment.

And he asked all state agencies but healthcare agencies to reduce their spending for the year by 1 percent. Little said he doesn’t expect any government employees to be laid off, as a result.

Little also said that Idaho will receive $1.25 billion in federal aid from the coronavirus aid package approved by Congress on Friday to provide relief to Idahoans who have lost income due to businesses being shuttered by the pandemic.

NEW COVID-19 HOTLINE:

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare will offer a new toll-free number for Idahoans with questions about COVID-19 or the statewide stay-home order. The number—1-888-330-3010—will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays beginning Monday, March 30.

A HURRAH AND A FEW CHUCKLES

A 101-year-old Italian man, who was born during the Spanish flu pandemic, was released from the hospital on Friday in a bit of bright news for a country that has been devastated by the pandemic.

A bakery in Bern, Switzerland, is putting protective masks on its chocolate Easter bunnies.

And a German bakery has begun rolling out cakes wrapped in white fondant in the shape of toilet paper rolls.

EN ESPANOL

En una reunión especial de emergencia convocada hoy para abordar los problemas relacionados a la pandemia de coronavirus, los comisionados del condado de Blaine aprobaron la Ordenanza 2020-01 que agrega restricciones locales a la Orden Estatal de Autoaislamiento del 25 de marzo de 2020. El objetivo de la ordenanza es proteger la salud pública al reducir los riesgos de propagación de coronavirus. Los comisionados también expresaron su profunda preocupación por la posibilidad de un sistema de atención médica abrumado, si no se hace todo lo posible para reducir las tasas de infección.

Como justificación, la ordenanza establece que “son necesarias medidas más estrictas para responder a la amenaza inminente que representa la propagación del virus COVID-19 en el condado de Blaine. (…) Estas medidas deben promulgarse en caso de emergencia debido al peligro inminente que representa la mayor propagación del virus de la COVID-19".

"Tenemos que dar este paso", dijo el comisionado Dick Fosbury. Los tres comisionados reconocieron que las nuevas medidas afectarán a los residentes, a los trabajadores y a las empresas en todo el condado, y que causarán cierta ansiedad y dificultades, al menos temporalmente. “Esto es invisible. No es una inundación donde se puede ver que el río crece. No es un incendio donde se puede ver la propagación".

Una gran cantidad de comentarios de apoyo y de oposición ha llegado esta semana al Condado y a las ciudades del área, que están considerando las mismas restricciones. La comisionada Angenie McCleary emitió su voto en contra de la ordenanza. Sintió que se podrían promover medidas alternativas, y afirmó sus temores de consecuencias no deseadas y que las empresas de menor riesgo serán castigadas. "Los impactos económicos también afectan la salud y la salud mental", dijo. Los comisionados acordaron monitorear los impactos de las nuevas medidas en las próximas semanas. Estas medidas estarán vigentes al menos hasta el 12 de abril de 2020.

Todas las disposiciones de la Orden de Autoaislamiento del Departamento de Salud y Bienestar de Idaho del 25 de marzo de 2020 permanecen vigentes. Si hay un conflicto entre esta ordenanza local y la orden estatal, se aplican los requisitos más estrictos de la ordenanza del condado de Blaine. La ordenanza se aplica a cualquier persona que viva, trabaje o visite el condado de Blaine.

Las restricciones locales adicionales promueven lo siguiente:  endurecer los requisitos para el distanciamiento social; endurecer las restricciones sobre viajes no esenciales fuera del condado; exigir a los visitantes de fuera del estado la cuarentena; considerar que la construcción residencial y comercial no es esencial; considerar que el paisajismo y el mantenimiento y la reparación rutinarios de edificios no son esenciales; establecer que los servicios de transporte como los taxis solo pueden cumplir funciones esenciales; y, por ejemplo, las habitaciones de hotel y los alquileres a corto plazo no pueden usarse por no residentes a menos que se autoaíslen, sean trabajadores de la salud o desempeñen funciones esenciales del gobierno.

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