Snowbirds soon to be inbound

With hundreds of snowbirds expected to be returning to North Idaho soon, many from Arizona, some have expressed concern to The Press whether they might be bringing the coronavirus with them.

Katherine Hoyer, Panhandle Health District spokeswoman, in response to a Press query about the arrival of snowbirds and any possible health threat, said Wednesday, “The health of everyone in our community is on our radar, including those who may be returning.”

“We would ask that they follow the Governor’s statewide stay-home order,” she wrote in an email. “If you have close contact with someone with COVID-19 during travel, you may be asked to stay home to self-monitor and avoid contact with others for up to 14 days after travel. If you become sick with COVID-19, you will be asked to self-isolate until you’re considered noninfectious.”

She also wrote they will be will be asked to avoid contact with others (including being in public places) during this period of infectiousness.

“Consider the risk of passing COVID-19 to others when returning from travel, particularly if you will be in close contact with people who are older adults or have severe chronic health condition,” Hoyer wrote.