County adds 3 new cases to PHD total

SANDPOINT — The Panhandle Health DIstrict documented 36 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus on Friday, lifting regional total to 421 cases.

Of the new cases, three were in Bonner County. However, the county’s active cases remain at 26 with three of the previous cases no longer being monitored.

“We continue to urge the public to wear cloth face coverings when in public, practice physical distancing, wash your hands frequently, stay home when sick, and sanitize regularly,” the health district said.

There are 357 cases in Kootenai County, 256 of which are considered active, and 36 cases in Bonner County, 26 of which are considered active. Boundary and Shoshone counties each have one case, however, Boundary County’s case is no longer being monitored and the person was out of the state when diagnosed and infectious. Benewah County has 13 cases, three of which are active.

There are 13 cases involving residents who primary county of residency is undetermined.

There have been 20 hospitalizations due to COVID-19 since the start of the global pandemic; five of those people are currently hospitalized.

Of those who have been confirmed to have COVID-19, 50 are under the age of 18, 250 are between the ages of 19 and 49, and 121 are over the age of 50. Panhandle Health District officials note that 225 are female and 196 are male.

PHD offices and the health district’s COVID-19 hotline are closed for the holiday, so there may be a delay in answering comments and questions. It will reopen Monday at 8 a.m.

COVID-19 testing data can be found at coronavirus.idaho.gov. For data specific to North Idaho, look at PHD1.

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or were exposed to a confirmed case, please call our hotline to be assessed for a COVID-19 test (1-877-415-5225).

The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare logged 401 new confirmed or probable cases of the virus, bringing the statewide total to 6,994 cases.

The Northeast Tri-County Health District in Washington state reported 27 cases in its region. There are 21 cases in Stevens County and five cases in Pend Oreille County. A case in Ferry County proved fatal.

The Montana State Department of Public Health reported 45 new cases, lifting the statewide total 1,128 cases. There are eight cases in Lincoln County and no cases in Sanders County.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.