Female patient over the age of 50 is recovering well at home
BY ERIC VALENTINE
South Central Public Health District (SCPHD) and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) have confirmed a third positive case in southcentral Idaho of novel coronavirus.
The newly confirmed case is a female patient over the age of 50. She is recovering well in her home under isolation and was not hospitalized, health officials said. This individual self-isolated as soon as she began showing symptoms. So far, investigation has not linked this case with the first two cases reported previously in Blaine County. The point of transmission is still under investigation.
SCPHD issued a statement early Tuesday morning stating the epidemiology team has been working around the clock to identify any people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 by all three confirmed cases and monitor them for symptoms.
“So far, none of the people exposed to the virus by our first three cases have shown symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19,” Logan Hudson, the public health director for SCPHD, said. “But we need people to be vigilant. If you are sick, it’s a good idea to self-isolate until you are healthy again. If you are showing symptoms of this coronavirus, call your doctor and ask if you should be evaluated for a test.”
Screening At St. Luke’s
On Tuesday, St. Luke’s Wood River opened a COVID-19 screening and testing station outside the physician office annex at St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center at 100 Hospital Drive in Ketchum. The station should only be accessed by people experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, such as severe coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue and fever. Patients will be able to stay in their cars for screening, registration and, if needed, testing for suspected coronavirus, the hospital said.
The screening station will be available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, until further notice. The screening station is in a tent. Vehicles should enter via the traffic light at 100 Hospital Drive and Highway 75, and yield to emergency vehicles. There is no upfront cost to the screening procedure, hospital spokesperson Joy Prudek said.
Patients who need immediate medical care for their symptoms will be directed appropriately to the Emergency Department. Individuals meeting testing criteria who do not require hospitalization will be sent home to self-quarantine while awaiting test results. Those who do not meet testing criteria will be sent home with instructions.
Until further notice, St. Luke’s Wood River Family Medicine will only be scheduling same-day appointments for non-respiratory health concerns at the physician office annex, Suite 109, in Ketchum.
The Hailey clinic will be open only for previously scheduled appointments. To schedule an appointment, contact (208) 788-3434, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you do not have a primary care provider, please contact:
● St. Luke’s Wood River Family Medicine in Hailey, Monday through Friday,
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at (208) 788-3434.
● St. Luke’s Center for Community Health (for non-medical evaluations and questions, such as assistance finding a primary care provider and accessing other local resources), Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at (208) 727-8733.
If you need assistance after hours, please call (208) 381-9000. For general questions, call the Idaho CareLine state hotline at 2-1-1 or 1-800-926-2588.
Hotline Information
South Central Public Health District is now running two hotlines for information about COVID-19. One in English at (208) 737-1138 and one in Spanish at (208) 737-5965. These hotlines are currently running from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.