Central District Health provides community spread categories for school districts

Monday (8/3), Central District Health (CDH) began its official weekly assessment and reporting of categories of community spread for use by school districts in Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley Counties in their decision-making processes and operations for COVID-19. The categories are defined in the Idaho Back to School Framework, as approved by the State Board of Education in early July, and indicate what level of in-person learning and response is recommended.

The categories referenced below are only recommendations for the week indicated; final decisions are made by local school boards. Private and charter schools are recommended to use the category based on the address of their facility and associated school district boundary.

The metrics used to make the category determinations include local public health data, and hospital and primary care operational indicators.

[For the week of August 3, 2020]

Ada County

Boise School District – Category 3
Kuna School District – Category 3
West Ada School District – Category 3

Considerations for Category 3 determination in Ada County include:

Case reports, case investigations, and information from our healthcare partners in Ada County meet all three metrics to justify Category 3

o Source of exposure for outbreaks and clusters are not able to be determined
o Multiple facility outbreaks with multiple cases associated with each outbreak
o Long-term care facilities are being significantly impacted in Ada County
o Cases are being seen in communal settings such as churches and day cares
o Healthcare facilities, including hospitals and primary care, are experiencing impact levels that do not demonstrate a trend toward stabilization or decline at this time

 

Boise County

Basin School District – Category 2
Garden Valley School District – Category 2
Horseshoe Bend School District – Category 2

Elmore County

Glenns Ferry School District – Category 2
Mountain Home School District – Category 2

Valley County

Cascade School District – Category 2
McCall-Donnelly School District – Category 2

Weekly assessments of community spread will be updated on Mondays at cdh.idaho.gov/dac-coronavirus-schools.php. If category designations are adjusted, then schools and families should expect transition time as changes may or may not be immediate.

 

 Category 1: No Community Transmission
 Category 2: Mild to Moderate Community Transmission
 Category 3: Substantial Community Transmission

At its upcoming August 4, 2020 meeting at 4 p.m., per the posted agenda, the Board of Health will discuss the community spread category designations for use by school districts within CDH’s jurisdiction. At its last meeting held July 28, 2020, the Board added language to the Ada County public health order in place to further clarify language regarding the wearing of face coverings in school settings. To view the updated Order, visit cdh.idaho.gov/dac-coronavirusorder.php.

Community COVID-19 Resources

Central District Health continues to offer a COVID-19 call center Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 208-321-2222. Find statewide data at coronavirus.idaho.gov/.