All five PHD counties move to 'minimal risk' for coronavirus

In accordance with the regional COVID-19 gating criteria, all five counties that the Panhandle Health District serves have moved to the yellow risk category.

Kootenai, Bonner, Boundary, Benewah, and Shoshone counties moved into the minimal-risk category for the coronavirus today.

They had been in orange, which is moderate risk.

The daily number of coronavirus cases in the PHD has decreased dramatically since December and the positivity rate has fallen to its lowest in months.

Metrics monitored to determine the move to yellow:

• New daily cases 7 day rolling average 1-15 per 100,000*

• Testing positivity rate 5-8%

• Regional Hospital Bed occupancy 75-90% with staffing and resource shortages

“We are cautiously optimistic seeing these trends,” said Jeff Lee, PHD epidemiologist. “Although these trends are promising, this is not the time to let our guard down. These trends are in part due to the precautions we have been taking and should continue to take until we reach a level of herd immunity that will provide greater protection.”

According to a press release, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and PHD encourage Idahoans to choose to receive the COVID-19 vaccine "because there is evidence the authorized COVID-19 vaccines will provide protections from virus variants. This is being closely investigated and more studies are under way."