PHD tallies 44 new virus cases
(Image courtesy PANHANDLE HEALTH DISTRICT) The Panhandle Health District tallied 44 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus, including the first case in Shoshone County, on Thursday
SANDPOINT — The Panhandle Health District tallied 44 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus, including the first case in Shoshone County, on Thursday.
The new case elevates the regional total to 385 cases, 325 of which are in Kootenai County. Bonner County has 33 cases and Benewah has 13 cases, according to the health district.
Thirteen cases involve infected persons whose primary county of residency is undetermined.
Kootenai County has 224 active cases and one fatality. Bonner County has 26 active cases and Benewah County has three active cases. Boundary County has one inactive case.
“As we head into this Fourth of July weekend, we urge the public to be diligent in wearing their cloth face coverings in public, keep six feet between yourself and others, wash your hands frequently, and stay home if you are sick! We continue to see rapid community spread and it takes everyone doing their part to slow the spread of this virus,” the health district said in a post to Facebook on Thursday.
PHD epidemiologists will conduct contact tracing and close contacts will be contacted if they are potentially at risk in the Shoshone County case. Additional case-specific information about this individual is confidential and will not be released.
“Our call center is available until 5 p.m. today and then we will close until Monday when we open at 8 a.m.,” said Lora Whalen, PHD director. “We continue to urge everyone to practice the precautions we know can help slow the spread of this virus. Heading into Fourth of July weekend we know if may be tempting to let our guard down, but we need everyone to stay healthy in order to keep our businesses open.”
The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare recorded 223 new confirmed or probable cases of coronavirus on Thursday, bringing the statewide total to 6,593 cases.
The Northeast Tri-County Health District in Washington state reported 25 confirmed cases, with 20 cases in Stevens County and four cases in Pend Oreille County, Ferry County had one case which proved fatal.
Montana documented 67 new confirmed cases on Thursday, lifting the statewide total to 1,083 cases, There are eight cases in Lincoln County and none in Sanders County, according to the state.
Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.