Corona cases climb

The number of coronavirus cases in Kootenai County reached 115 on Friday.

The Panhandle Health District reported 149 cases total, with 13 in Benewah County, 11 in Bonner County, and 10 undetermined. Shoshone and Boundary counties still have no cases.

Of those, 107 cases are no longer being monitored. There have been 16 total hospitalizations and four are currently hospitalized.

PHD reported the area’s first death, an individual from Kootenai County in his 70s, related to COVID-19 on Monday.

When restaurants, salons and gyms reopened May 16 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. Idaho entered stage four on June 13, which allowed nightclubs and large venues to open

Health officials have said they expected to see an increase in cases as the economy opened up again, but continue to urge people to take precautions — wash hands, sanitize, stay home if sick and wear masks — to slow the spread of COVID-19.