Slight rise in coronavirus cases

The number of coronavirus cases in Kootenai County increased to 107 on Thursday, up four in the past two days.

The Panhandle Health District reported 139 cases total, with 12 in Benewah County, 11 in Bonner County, also up four in two days, and nine undetermined. Shoshone and Boundary counties still have no cases.

Of those, 107 cases are no longer being monitored. There have been 15 total hospitalizations and three are currently hospitalized.

PHD reported the area’s first death related to COVID-19 on Monday. The individual was from Kootenai County and in his 70s. He had been hospitalized due to complications with COVID-19.

A little over a month ago, when restaurants, salons and gyms reopened under Gov. Brad Little’s Rebound Idaho plan, PHD reported 68 coronavirus cases, with 64 in Kootenai County. On May 30, bars were allowed to reopen.

Health officials have said they expected to see an increase in cases, but urge people to take precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19.