Going down

COEUR d’ALENE — Kootenai Health reported it had six COVID-19 patients in critical care Friday, the fewest this year.

It also had 46 COVID-19 inpatients, the fewest since early January.

“The continued downward trajectory of hospitalized COVID-19 patients is a welcome relief to Kootenai Health and its staff,” said Karen Cabell, DO, chief physician executive. “We continue to provide care to patients whose procedures or medical care were delayed while we were in Crisis Standards of Care.

"Additionally, nationwide hospital staffing challenges will be a concern for all hospitals, including Kootenai Health, for the immediate future.”

The coronavirus positivity rate is also down. It was 11.1% in Kootenai County for the week ending Feb. 19 based on 1,551 PCR tests. Four weeks ago it was 40%.

Panhandle Health District’s positivity rate dropped to 11.2%, the lowest in two months as it fell for the fourth straight week after reaching 40% on Jan. 22.

The state’s coronavirus positivity rate was down to 10%, its lowest since Jan. 22.

Statewide, hospitalizations due to COVID-19 were at 223 as of Feb. 21, down from a high of 793 last Sept. 24 and the fewest since Aug. 5.

Deaths attributed to the virus are also declining.

For October and November, PHD reported 230 COVID-19 related deaths. For December and January, it was 134. There have been 62 COVID-related deaths in the PHD in February so far, according to its website.

The state reported a total of 56,837 breakthrough cases — those fully vaccinated still getting COVID-19. Statistically, vaccinated patients tend to incur lesser symptoms than do unvaccinated patients.

Statewide, 4,722 deaths have been attributed to the virus. Of those, 68% were people over the age of 70. Five percent were people under the age of 50.