COVID hospitalizations rise to 8

PHD: 97 new coronavirus cases

By BILL BULEY

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — The Panhandle Health District reported on Monday that eight people are hospitalized due to the coronavirus and there were 97 new cases.

That bought total hospitalizations to 27 and the total cases to 867, while 342 are no longer being monitored. PHD reported there are 13 probable cases.

Kootenai County’s coronavirus count rose to 736, an increase of 73 cases since Friday.

Benewah County remained at 22 cases, Bonner County rose 19 to 78, Boundary County added two cases and now has seven, and Shoshone County increased by one to nine, PHD said. There are 15 undetermined cases. There has been one death in Kootenai County attributed to the coronavirus.

PHD Director Laura Whalen has told The Press that a key in the COVID-19 battle is maintaining hospital capacity, which is happening. But Whalen said that could change if people don’t practice social distancing, hand washing and wear masks when in public places by others.

The increase of five hospitalizations over the weekend is particularly concerning for health officials.

“Take personal responsibility and do one of those things that works,” she said.

PHD reported that the age group of 18 to 29 has the most COVID-19 cases at 305, while the 30-39 age group has 145 cases, which means those two age groups are accounting for more than half of the total cases.

The 50-59 age group and the 40-49 age group both have 107 cases. The under 18 age group has 86 cases.

Of the cornavirus cases, 477 are female and 388 are male.

COVID-19 testing is available in North Idaho and anyone who needs to be tested is encouraged to call their primary care provider or PHD’s hotline.

Info: panhandlehealthdistrict.org/covid-19 or call the PHD Hotline Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 877-415-5225.