PHD: Few new coronavirus cases

Kootenai County saw only four new coronavirus cases on Friday, as the count rose to 173.

The Panhandle Health District said Benewah, Bonner and Boundary counties reported no new cases and remained respectively at 13, 24 and one. Shoshone County still has zero cases.

The PHD reported five new cases, for a total of 220.

The decline in new cases, from 36 in Kootenai County the previous two days, could not be attributed to anything specific, said Katherine Hoyer, PHD spokeswoman.

She said new cases could increase by Monday, so PHD reminds the public to remain social distancing, wash hands, avoid large crowds and wear masks in public.

Hoyer said there have been recent instances in social settings where there has been “little to no social distancing” and it could be contributing to the rise in coronavirus cases.

Of the cases in the PHD, 115 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, 116 cases are people ages 19 to 49, and 80 are 50 and over.

One hundred and fifteen cases are female, while 105 are male, PHD said.

PHD on Thursday confirmed the first case of novel coronavirus in Boundary County. The individual contracted the virus while traveling, a PHD press release said.

Statewide, Idaho has 5,148 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases, including 283 new cases Friday, and 90 deaths.

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