2% and falling

COVID-19 positivity rates are closing in on zero in North Idaho.

According to the state's COVID-19 dashboard, Kootenai County's positivity rate was 2.4% based on 1,024 PCR tests for the week ending March 12. That's the lowest since August 2020 and the seventh-straight week of decline. Less than two months ago, Kootenai County's positivity rate was 40%.

The Panhandle Health District's positivity rate was 2.3% based on 1,500 PCR tests, the lowest since June 13, 2020 when it was 1.3%.

The state's positivity rate was 2.5% based on 18,751 PCR tests. That's the lowest in the two years the state has tracked positivity rates.

Statewide hospitalizations were down to 104 on Thursday, the lowest since mid-July.

Deaths attributed to the virus are also down.

In the past months, 35 COVID-related deaths were reported in the PHD.

In comparison, from. Oct. 17 to Nov. 17, there were 139 COVID-related deaths reported in the PHD.

State health officials say they like the downward trend but say there could be a COVID-19 surge, so they remain "cautiously optimistic."