Coronavirus hospitalizations rise to 9

COEUR d’ALENE — The Panhandle Health District reported there were 47 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday. That brings PHD’s total cases to 914, with 359 no longer being monitored.

Nine people are hospitalized due to the virus — up one from Monday— and there has been a total of 29 people hospitalized.

Kootenai County’s coronavirus count rose to 778, an increase of 42.

There has been one death in Kootenai County attributed to the coronavirus.

Benewah County remained at 22 cases, Bonner County rose two to 80, Boundary County is at seven cases, and Shoshone County rose three to 12, PHD said. There are 14 undetermined cases.

PHD reported that the age group of 18 to 29 has by far the most COVID-19 cases, 34 percent, at 313. The 30-39 age group has 159 cases, 17 percent, which means those two age groups are accounting for more than half of the total cases.

Females are being affected more, with 500 cases accounting for 54 percent, while 412 cases are among males.

As of Tuesday, PHD is only writing orders for COVID-19 testing for individuals who are uninsured and do not have a primary care provider.

PHD is asking individuals to use their primary care provider for their COVID-19 test ordering needs.

“Due to the increased number of COVID-19 positive cases in our community, PHD will be focusing our resources on the public health function of contact tracing in order to slow the spread of the virus,” a press release said.

Health officials continue to encourage people to practice social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks when in public places by others.

Per PhD, a probable case or COVID-19 death is defined as:

• A person meeting clinical criteria and epidemiologic evidence with no confirmatory laboratory testing performed for COVID-19;

• A person meeting presumptive laboratory evidence and either clinical criteria or epidemiologic evidence;

• A person meeting vital records criteria with no confirmatory laboratory testing performed for COVID-19.