Kootenai County positivity rate remains high

| February 4, 2022 1:07 AM

The coronavirus positivity rate for Kootenai County remained above 40% for the second straight week, according to the Idaho Division of Public Health.

Kootenai County's positivity rate was 40.5% for the week ending Jan. 29 based on 2,908 PCR tests. The Panhandle Health District’s dropped slightly, to 38.6% from 39.5%, based on 4,093 PCR tests, while the state’s positivity rate fell to 34% from 39% based on 42,799 PCR tests.

The PHD reported 440 new cases on Thursday and the number of deaths in the district attributed to COVID-19 rose to 850, with 527 of those in Kootenai County.

Despite 912,140 fully vaccinated Idahoans, the state reported 2,496 new cases on Thursday.

Health officials attributed most new cases to the omicron variant, which is said to be more contagious but milder — causing mostly cold-like symptoms — than its predecessors, alpha and delta.

State health officials continue to call on people to get vaccinated, boosted and wear medical-grade masks in public.

They have said the vaccine is safe, effective and has minimal side effects.

COVID-19 continues to take a heavier toll on older people. In the PHD, 90% of deaths attributed to COVID were people age 60 and older. Just 1% of those in the PHD whose deaths are attributed to COVID-19 were under the age of 40.