COVID positivity percentage falls again in North Idaho

The coronavirus positivity percentage for North Idaho and the state continues to fall.

According to the state website on Thursday, Idaho’s COVID-19 positivity percentage declined to 6.6% based on 27,665 PCR tests for the week ending Feb. 6. That’s the lowest in eight months, since it was 2.7% for the week ending June 13. It reached a high of 19.1% for the week ending Nov. 21

The Panhandle Health District’s coronavirus positivity percentage was 8.5% based on 4,332 PCR tests, the lowest since it was 7.3% for the week ending Oct. 10. It reached a high of 22.9% just over five weeks ago.

Kootenai County’s positivity rate was 9.6% based on 2,812 PCR tests, the lowest in four months since it was 8.3% for the week ending Oct. 10. It reached a high of 27.1% for the week ending Jan. 2.

The PHD reported 76 new COVID cases on Thursday, bringing its total to 21,408.

PHD hasn’t reported a coronavirus-related death in the district in the last six days. Deaths attributed to the virus in the PHD total 246.

There were no coronavirus-related deaths reported in the state on Thursday, according to the website.

According to the state as of Thursday, 22,651 people in the PHD, and 15,433 in Kootenai County, have received COVID-19 vaccinations.

Health officials continue to urge people to wear masks, wash hands and maintain social distancing to help prevent the virus from spreading.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, primarily older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and death.