Three more COVID-19 cases in Kootenai County

Four new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in North Idaho in the last 24 hours, Panhandle Health District reported Friday just after noon.

That brings the total in the state’s five northernmost counties to 48 confirmed cases.

Three of the new cases are in Kootenai County, bringing that total to 44, while Bonner County added its fourth case. Shoshone, Boundary and Benewah counties still have no confirmed cases.

“All of the new cases had close contact with a confirmed case,” said Panhandle’s Katherine Hoyer. “We have community transmission in Kootenai County. Some of the confirmed cases are not connected to travel or contact with a confirmed case. We continue to urge the public to adhere to the stay-home order made by Governor Little and the 30-day slow the spread guidance by the federal government. We know practicing social distancing strategies can slow the spread of this virus, but we need everyone to do their part.”

Hoyer also explained the way Panhandle reports hospitalizations.

“Hospitalizations on the website is a tally of total hospitalizations of confirmed cases,” she said. “This does not mean these patients are currently hospitalized, only that they were hospitalized for COVID-19 and are also confirmed positive with COVID-19.”

Further, Hoyer noted that Panhandle is no longer monitoring 14 cases.

“A person is no longer being monitored when they have stayed home for our recommended period of time AND have not had a fever for at least 72 hours (that is three full days of no fever without the use medicine that reduces fevers) AND other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved) AND at least 7 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared,” she said.

Here’s a breakdown of the 48 cases so far:

Kootenai — 44 cases, 0 deaths

Benewah — 0 cases, 0 deaths

Bonner — 4 cases, 0 deaths

Boundary — 0 cases, 0 deaths

Shoshone — 0 cases, 0 deaths

TOTAL — 48 cases, 0 deaths

Panhandle Residents with COVID-19 by Age Group

<18 years — 5

19 to 49 years — 20

≥50 years — 23

Panhandle Residents with COVID-19 by Sex

Female — 20

Male — 28

Unknown — 0