COVID TASK FORCE MEETING NOTES 23 JULY 2020
HEALTHCARE UPDATE
St. Lukes Hospital
STATEWIDE: Capacity at hospitals is in good shape. There are 61 COVID positive patients currently. Numbers of positive cases are going down, there are 35 confirmed positive patients this week and 55 last week. The ICU in Nampa has 12 COVID positive patients. There are 28 total ventilated patients this included COVID and non COVID related cases (17 last week).
LOCAL: 1,654 tests to date have been ordered with 90 positive test results and 1,562 negative test results captured. The McCall hospital is operating with high available capacity. COVID positive patients who require hospitalization are being transferred to Boise.
The turn-around time for testing at McCall and Cascade hospitals has generally been 24-36 hours for normal testing. Both hospitals now have an Abbott testing machine as well that produces 30 minute results, but this is used only for urgent exposure situations.
Healthcare therapeutics for COVID. Less use of ventilation and more use of hypo oxygen, this has been shown to reduce some symptoms. Some medication may be used to help with symptoms. A vaccine may possibly be created at the end of this year or beginning of the next. Does the use of medication and hypo oxygen have any effects on the death toll of COVID? Will look into this data for the next meeting.
McCall City Council
There was a Town hall meeting last Friday with Dr. Greg Irvine and Jim Foudy. This was to illustrate what going back to school this year looks like. There is a recording for people to review available online. Topics: masking, types of masks and how to wear them properly, myths associated with COVID, relaying facts to displace rumors, possibly the creation of a panel to illustrate best practices to manage COVID cases in schools and business’, affirmation that students who are going to school online are being reported for attendance records
Cascade Medical Center
Before today there have been 35 positive cases and in the past 35 days only 2 tests were positive. Try to practice the 3 W’s: Watch your distance, Wear your mask, Wash your hands! Testing is still available 7 days a week. There are morning and afternoon windows for drive through testing. Cascade schools opened this week – review school policies to ensure safe procedures. Flu season is on the way!
Is there a process to remove Counties from the list on Community Spread when 1) positive tests go down and 2) can we actually trace new cases? Valley County commissioners can request to be removed from the CDH mandate.
Marketing subcommittee:
“I wear a Mask…” video: there have been lots of comments (some negative) but mostly positivity through sharing and liking the post. The kindness campaign has begun! 5,000 kindness cards have been ordered and you can find them at every post office and library in McCall Donnelly and Cascade. There are some at city hall in New Meadows and other city offices in the region. This will be a drip campaign please send reminders about the cards to others to show support and kindness through the day. Work on positive messaging to match the campaign.
Government update:
City of McCall update:
There is a council meeting tonight. Discussion about the issuing emergency powers ordinance and authority. This can only last for 182 days and ends September 18 after which the county will default to central district health orders. Discussion to keep the emergency powers authority.
Cascade: Citizens and others need to help one another model great behavior with masks and keep practicing preventative measures. Remember the 3W’s: Watch your distance, Wear your mask, Wash your hands!
Working to explain to passionate individuals the importance of staying safe and practicing 3W’s in order to keep our schools, business and economy in operation. Finding ways to provide data when responding to questions from individuals. Provide a goal or display and outlook that we are heading toward.
Working to attain additional funding for broadband with cares act funding. It is possible that we will increase population due to students attending online school and parents commuting virtually to work. Working to provide better broadband infrastructure. Recent grant awards only apply for incumbent providers. McCall received funds to provide WIFI hot spots for public access throughout the city.
House bill 6 passed yesterday for civil liability business’ can no longer be blamed if a case of COVID does occur in one of their patrons.
Business update:
Restaurant round table virtual discussion will be held on September 15th from 2:00-3:30. A broad scale email blast will has been sent to regional restaurants. Topics: Talk about operations now and the pivot to different seasons, how to operate indoors under these circumstances, consider Take out Tuesday concept and resiliency planning.
Discussion about employment changes in restaurant, business, and hotel operations due to low staffing and COVID precautions.
Action items:
Get data points to show that this message is working. Story to illustrate success with mask mandates.
Organize an objective and forward looking message to this situation and steps moving forward.
Post and share chamber “I wear a mask…” video
How can we engage high school and other youth about the importance of wearing a mask so that they can attend school?
ADJOURN