Kootenai County sees another jump in cases

Kootenai County saw its second-largest single-day jump in coronavirus cases when it increased by 17 to 169 on Thursday.

The Panhandle Health District reported 23 cases — for the second straight day — to hit 215, with 13 in Benewah County, 24 (six new cases ) in Bonner County, and nine undetermined. Shoshone and Boundary counties still have no cases.

Idaho has nearly 4,200 cases and has had 90 deaths attributed to the coronavirus.

Of the cases in the PHD, 114 are no longer being monitored. There have been 16 total hospitalizations and one is currently hospitalized.

PHD reported that 24 people age 18 and younger have had or have the coronavirus, 112 cases are people ages 19 to 49, and 79 are 50 and over.

One hundred and eleven cases are female, while 104 are male, PHD said.

When restaurants, salons and gyms reopened May 16 under Stage 2 of Gov. Brad Little’s Rebound Idaho plan, PHD reported 68 coronavirus cases, with 64 in Kootenai County.

Central District Health moved Ada County back to stage three due to rising COVID-19 cases.

The majority of people who contracted the coronavirus have mild symptoms, but it can cause serious health problems, even death, in those who are elderly or have compromised respiratory systems.

Katherine Hoyer, PHD spokeswoman, said they believe the increase in cases is due to people being out and about more and not practicing the guidance. She said PHD is calling on “everyone who can to wear a cloth face covering in public, to keep 6 feet between themselves and others, to wash hands frequently, to not gather in large crowds.

“We know these things work, but it takes everyone’s participation,” Hoyer wrote.