Coronavirus showing decline in PHD

Lora Whalen likes what she’s seeing in the latest reports of coronavirus cases in the Panhandle Health District.

“We’re in a good place and we just need to stay here,” said the PHD director in a phone interview with The Press on Thursday.

Daily reports of new cases, which had been running in the 60s and 70s and even more than 100, are now consistently around 20, with 23 new cases Thursday.

Hospitalizations are down from a high of about 30 to 10 on Thursday. There have been no deaths attributed to the virus in the PHD for three days.

The positivity rate of those tested for the coronavirus in the PHD has declined from about 12% six weeks ago to about 4% the last week of August, the lowest in the state.

The PHD has 357 active cases, which is about 0.14 percent of its population.

Whalen said PHD is in a downward trend with COVID-19.

“So that’s good,” she said.

But that doesn’t mean it’s time to celebrate.

She said PHD is still seeing cases of community transmission, and there have been nearly 50 deaths attributed to the virus. While new cases are down now, they could easily jump back up.

Whalen said it’s critical — especially this Labor Day weekend — that people go with the “tried and true” of washing hands, maintaining social distancing, and wearing masks when unable to stay at least six feet from others in public places.

“We are seeing cases where this is not happening,” she said.

People can have the virus, show no effects of the virus, and spread it.

“We do know there are asymptomatic carriers out there,” Whalen said.

She is well aware the divide over masks in North Idaho remains.

“We’re not a masking culture, so it’s very difficult for some to accept,” she said.

Some refuse to wear them and say they infringe on their rights. They argue they are actually bad for your health and point to reports that back up their view.

Others wear them daily, say they protect not only themselves, but those around them, and it's the responsible things to do. They also point to reports that support their view.

One caller to The Press Thursday evening was upset that most customers at major retailers don't wear masks and those stores are not doing anything about it, despite having signs that say masks are required.

Whalen said there is more data showing that masks work in helping prevent the spread of the virus that has claimed 372 lives in Idaho.

Whalen wasn’t surprised that there have not been any citations issued by law officers in Kootenai County in six weeks since the mandate was approved July 23 by a 4-2 PHD board vote.

“Their task is one of education,” she said.

She maintained that masking is one simple thing people can do to help protect each other from COVID-19 and keep the economy open.

She said that hopefully wearing masks will be short term as a new vaccine looks promising and per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, could be ready for distribution by Nov. 1.

She added, though, she wasn’t sure how much of the vaccine would be allotted to Idaho and said it would likely be in limited supply and go to the elderly and those with compromised health, first.

“It will be there for high priority groups that wish to take it,” she said.

Whalen said no one will be forced to take a vaccine.

“It’s if you want a vaccine,” she said.

Asked how much longer the mask mandate may continue, Whalen said that would be the board’s decision.

The board wants to see a positivity rate below 5%, fewer people admitted to hospitals due to virus, and see fewer deaths, Whalen said.

According to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare website, based on 2,087 tests in the PHD during the week of Aug 23 to 29, the positivity rate was just over 4%. It’s the third week in a row the positivity rate has fallen in the PHD. For the July 19 to July 25 week, based on 5,800 tests, the positivity rate was just over 12%.

“Let’s just give it a little more time and see where we are in a couple of weeks,” Whalen said.

The state had a positivity rate of 8% for the week of Aug. 23 to 29 based on 15,462 tests, according to the website. It was as high as 14% July 5 to July 11 based on 26,434 tests.

Whalen said regardless of the mask mandate, some people will choose to wear them and some will not. But it’s important everyone do what they can to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus so life can “get back to what we all consider normal.”

“I think we’re doing a pretty good job in Idaho,” she said.