Pend Oreille County COVID-19 case announced

Northeast Tri County Health District was notified today, April 2, of the first positive COVID- 19 test for a person residing in Pend Oreille County.

The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 is in isolation at home. NETCHD is in the process of notifying potential close contacts and these individuals will be given additional guidance and advised of precautions they should take.

“News of this first case in Pend Oreille County may cause fear and uncertainty,” Matt Schanz, NETCHD administrator, said in a press release. “However, the medical facilities, providers, and business owners in Pend Oreille County took precautions early on that have allowed them to prepare for this first case. The early efforts, coupled with help from the public, could make the difference in reducing the spread of the virus and protecting local residents.”

It is likely that more cases will be confirmed in the area, Schanz said. Investigations in other counties are seeing a common trend relating to exposure, which involve:

• travel or visitation of individuals traveling, to and from out of the area; or

• travel to areas outside the local communities

COVID-19 has shown that it is not limited to specific communities, work sites, or individuals. It is also known that a person can be infected with COVID-19 and be contagious while showing mild or no symptoms. We are strongly urging everyone to abide by Governor Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order. This simple, but important action, could prevent the virus from unknowingly infecting others.

Within Washington state, there have been a total of 6,590 cases of COVID- 19 and 259 deaths. the time of this press release, in the three-county area of northeastern Washington the number of individuals tested are:

• Ferry County: 1 positive case, 62 negative test results, 0 deaths

• Pend Oreille County: 1 positive cases, 102 negative test results, 0 deaths

• Stevens County: 5 positive cases, 210 negative, 0 deaths