Public Coronavirus Briefing With Boise Mayor McLean And Local Health Care Executives

Press release from the City of Boise:

November 16, 2020

Mayor Lauren McLean will receive a briefing on the COVID-19 crisis impacting Boise, and the nation on Tuesday, November 17th, at 9:00- 9:30 am. The public and media are invited to watch. The briefing will address the current state of COVID-19 in Boise. Experts will give advice on ways the city can help with the spread.

In attendance:

• Mayor Lauren McLean
• Dr. Jim Souza, chief medical officer for St. Luke's Health System
• Odette Bolano President & CEO, Saint Alphonsus Health System
• David Peterman, M.D. CEO at Primary Health Medical Group
• Dr. Steve Nemerson, Chief Clinical Officer, Saint Alphonsus

"Boise will use the tools we have to prevent the spread of COVID-19," says Mayor Lauren McLean. "We want the public involved. Everyone should see how and why we are making these decisions. Moving forward, we will look to regional partners to help in this pursuit. Public health and safety are the primary goals."

"Recent scientific studies show that in hospital settings where universal masking is in place, the transmission of COVID-19 is rare, even during times of high community spread," President Odette C. Bolano, Saint Alphonsus Health System. "These hospitals are overwhelmingly safe, and thus avoidance or delay of needed urgent health care is not necessary."

"If each of us – as citizens - do not take action and do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, our capacity to provide healthcare services is at stake." Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jim Souza, St. Luke's Health System. "This scenario is entirely preventable if we all act together."

The meeting will be available live and with ASL interpretation for the public and media via YouTube: https://youtu.be/V_VMdcKUQiY

This press release was produced by the City of Boise. The views expressed here are the author’s own.