PHD: 30 new cases

The number of new COVID-19 cases in the Panhandle Health District fell to 30 on Friday, the lowest one-day count since Aug 4.

PHD’s total cases stand at 2,434, with 1,551 of those considered closed. There are 24 people hospitalized due to COVID-19 and there have been 24 deaths, two people in their 60s and 22 were over the age of 70, the PHD reported.

Kootenai County, which is under a mask mandate ordered by the PHD board, had 23 new cases on Friday, bringing its total to 1,952 cases. Bonner County has 192, Shoshone has 161, Benewah 70 and Boundary has 39.

There are 883 active coronavirus cases in the PHD, which has a population of about 245,000.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare released its statewide weekly summary of long-term care facilities — nursing homes, assisted living facilities or intermediate care — with resident or staff positive for COVID-19 on Friday.

It reported that as of Friday there have been 136 outbreaks with 1,668 total cases. Of those, 38 facilities have resolved outbreaks, and 17 of the 38 resolved outbreaks included only one resident or staff member reported with COVID-19, and there was no further spread in the facility.

Statewide, there have been 138 COVID-19-related deaths associated with 42 facilities, Health and Welfare reported.

There are currently 1,338 people reported with COVID-19 associated with 98 long-term care facilities.

Health officials say people should continue to wear masks in public when unable to maintain at least 6 feet from others, wash their hands and sanitize often-used areas.