Daily case count falls to 12

PHD conducted about 35,000 coronavirus tests from May 29 to Aug. 15

COEUR d’ALENE — The latest numbers indicate the worst of the coronavirus could be behind North Idaho.

The Panhandle Health District reported only 12 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday, the lowest single-day count in nearly two months.

Kootenai County, which is under a mask mandate per the PHD board, had eight of the new cases and now has 2,038 total cases, 1.2 percent of its population of about 165,000, and 347 active cases.

Kootenai Health reported it was down to 11 coronavirus patients, which at one point topped 30, and six in critical care.

The PHD also reported the positivity rate for the virus has declined to 11 percent, down from 12 percent last month. From May 29 through Aug. 15, the PHD has done around 35,000 tests.

PHD’s total number of coronavirus cases as of Friday is 2,559, with 2,076 of those closed, and 483 active cases, which is about 0.19 percent of the district’s population.

There have been 33 deaths attributed to the coronavirus in the PHD, with 23 in Kootenai County, nine in Shoshone County and one in Benewah.

The 18 to 39 age group accounts for the majority of cases, 1,058, with 11 of those resulting in hospitalizations.

Bonner County has 197 COVID-19 cases, Shoshone has 179, Benewah 85 and Boundary, 42.

Health officials say even with decline in virus cases, people must be diligent and continue to wear masks when in public and unable to maintain social distancing, wash hands and sanitize frequently used areas at home.