Kootenai Health unmasked

COEUR d’ALENE — For more than three years, Kootenai Health employees were required to wear masks at work due to COVID-19.

No more.

The hospital and Kootenai Clinic facilities last week lifted that requirement because the community’s transmission levels dropped below 10%.

“Our staff is pleased our community has reached this milestone,” said Dr. Karen Cabell, Kootenai Health chief physician executive. “The last three years have taken a toll on health care providers across the country, and the Kootenai Health team is no exception. We continue to look to the future and our mission of providing world-class care to our community.”

Staff members will be allowed to work unmasked unless they are following other infection prevention protocols such as required per standard, transmission, or neutropenic precautions, according to a statement from Kootenai Health.

According to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, the positivity rate for the Panhandle Health District has been under 10% for about six weeks and is currently at 6.3%.

Kootenai County’s positivity rate for COVID-19 has been under 10% for seven weeks and is currently at 4.6%.

Kootenai Health has had 155 COVID-19 patients this year and currently has four.

It does not have staff dedicated to COVID patients.

At the height of the pandemic, in October 2021, it had about 150 COVID patients. Additional space and staff were dedicated to their care.

If the positivity rate were to spike above 10%, masking would once again be required at KH, per CDC guidelines.

Masks became a dividing point during the pandemic, with many wearing them, and many declining. While most no longer wear masks in public places, some still do.

Hospital officials note the decision to require employees to wear masks wasn’t theirs.

Cabell said because Kootenai Health accepts Medicaid and Medicare patients, it follows the requirements established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which says to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for masking.

“CDC guidelines require health care personnel, patients and visitors to mask when community transmission levels are high; above 10 percent,” the release said.

Cabell said recent data from Idaho Health and Welfare shows Kootenai Health is no longer at a “high” transmission level, but is at a "substantial" transmission level.

As a result, Kootenai Health lifted its universal masking requirement April 17.

That had some staffers seeing the smiling faces of co-workers for the first time since the onset of COVID-19.

“Thankfully, the community positivity rate has dropped and the masks are able to come off,” Cabell said.