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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><img width="624" height="147" style="width:6.5in;height:1.5312in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.png@01D63036.D91CAA30"></span></b><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">May 22, 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"">Idaho rolls out new COVID-19 testing strategy to protect lives, preserve healthcare capacity, rebound economy<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little announced today that the Testing Task Force assembled one month ago has completed its recommendations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">“A strong economic rebound can only occur with a combination of efforts, and expanded and targeted testing is a big part of our strategy,” Governor Little said. “We have an impressive team of very
capable local clinical and laboratory and research experts from across the state helping us navigate this crisis, and I sincerely appreciate their help.”</span><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">The task force’s full report is available at
<a href="https://rebound.idaho.gov/stages-of-reopening/">https://rebound.idaho.gov/stages-of-reopening/</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">The Testing Task Force’s recommendations include:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Who should be tested and how often. Testing across all groups of people should be expanded. This will include testing of both symptomatic and some asymptomatic people
based on priority level. The task force proposed five testing priority levels based on testing need. Priority 1 represents people with the highest need for testing (such as healthcare workers, residents of nursing homes, and others) and priority 5 represents
those with the lowest need. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Investment in local testing capacity must be significantly increased.
<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Expansion of molecular diagnostic testing now, which in combination with proven public health practices such as tracing, physical distancing, enhanced sanitation,
hand hygiene, and instructing ill people to stay home to protect others, will help stop the spread of COVID-19. Molecular diagnostic tests identify the presence of the virus and tell us who is infected. Knowing who has the virus is the most important information
we need to reduce disease transmission. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">A limited use of serologic (antibody) testing, which detects human antibodies to the virus. The presence of antibodies tells us who has been exposed to the virus
in the past, but that does not guarantee they will be protected from re-infection. There will be important public health uses for serology testing, but at a later point in the response.
<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">“The takeaway message from these recommendations is that we will need to build incredible testing capacity plus the ability to respond to all of those results with appropriate clinical and public
health follow-up care, if we <span style="color:black">hope to provide widescale and repeated testing for all Idahoans who may need to be tested,” said Dr. Christopher Ball, Chief of the Idaho Bureau of Laboratories and co-chair of the Testing Task Force.</span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">The task force also noted:
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Testing for COVID-19 is not a strategy that stands alone; it informs public health prevention strategies and risk mitigation efforts.
<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Well-executed risk mitigation efforts will achieve both reductions in disease transmission and a successfully reopened economy.
<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Lastly, a robust approach to educating the public, businesses, industry, schools, and others must be a critical part of the enhanced public health prevention strategies
required to effectively mitigate COVID-19 transmission risk. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Participants of the Testing Task Force include:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><u><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Co-chairs <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Dr. Christopher Ball (Director, Idaho Bureau of Laboratories)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Dr. Jim Souza (Chief Medical Officer, St. Luke’s Health System)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><u><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">State and Local Public Health <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Division of Public Health:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Dr. Christine Hahn (Public Health Medical Director and State Epidemiologist)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Dr. Kris Carter (Career Epidemiology Field Officer – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Dr. Carolyn Bridges (Consultant)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Elke Shaw-Tulloch (Division Administrator, State Health Official) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Local Public Health District:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Maggie Mann (Director, Southeastern Idaho Public Health)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><u><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Healthcare <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Boise Veterans Administration Medical Center: <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Dr. Andrew Wilper (Chief of Staff) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Kootenai Health:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Dr. Karen Cabell (Chief Physician Executive) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Saint Alphonsus Health System:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Dr. Steven Nemerson (Chief Clinical Officer)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Dr. Patrice Burgess (Systems Contact for Testing) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">St. Luke's Health System:<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Dr. Matthew Burtelow (Boise Pathology Group, St. Luke’s Treasure Valley Medical Executive Committee)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Dr. Sky Blue (infectious disease physician, Sawtooth Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases, St. Luke’s Infection Prevention Committee)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Idaho Emergency Responders Health Center<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Dr. Rob Hilvers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><u><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Retail Pharmacy<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Albertsons Corporation: Rob Geddes, Director of Pharmacy and Regulatory Affairs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><u><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Community Organization<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">Crush the Curve: Mike Boren<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""># # #<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">208-943-1686 or </span>
<a href="mailto:marissa.morrison@gov.idaho.gov"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">marissa.morrison@gov.idaho.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans"">--<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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