PHD announces new COVID-19 cases
Panhandle Health District announced several new cases of COVID-19 in the Panhandle area, bringing the total to 52 in the state’s five northern counties. Forty-eight of the cases are in Kootenai County and four in Bonner County.
Details on new cases will be posted on the PHD website page in real time: panhandlehealthdistrict.org/covid-19/ .
Of the total number of confirmed cases, the health district is no longer monitoring 24 individuals. A person is no longer being monitored when they have stayed home for our recommended period of time AND have not had a fever for at least 72 hours (that is three full days of no fever without the use medicine that reduces fevers) AND other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved) AND at least 7 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared
Hospitalizations on the website is a tally of total hospitalizations of confirmed cases. This does not mean these patients are currently hospitalized, only that they were hospitalized for COVID-19 and are also confirmed positive with COVID-19.
PHD will make a daily announcement if there are confirmed cases within the Panhandle at noon, 7 days a week.
PHD officials warn there is community transmission in Kootenai County, with some of the confirmed cases are not connected to travel or contact with a confirmed case.
“We continue to urge the public to adhere to the stay-home order made by Governor Little and the 30-day slow-the-spread guidance by the federal government,” PHD officials said in a press release. “We know practicing social distancing strategies can slow the spread of this virus, but we need everyone to do their part.”
The Panhandle area includes the five northern counties — Kootenai, Shoshone, Benewah, Bonner, and Boundary.
Epidemiologists with PHD are working to investigate cases of possible contact. All household members of confirmed cases have been asked to self-isolate at home for a prescribed period of time. If other people are found to have been exposed, health officials will provide guidance to these individuals and they will be asked to self-monitor for the development of symptoms.
People ill with coronavirus in other states and countries have reported mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. If community members have these symptoms and are concerned, they should call PHD’s call center at 1-877-415-5225 or their provider. PHD will provide an over-the-phone assessment to determine if someone should be tested. Please call, do not come into PHD or your provider’s office. Tested individuals must stay home until test results are received. If the test is positive, all household members must self-isolate at home for a recommended period of time.
Individuals may also call the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-330-3010.
CONFIRMED PHD CASES: 52
No longer monitored: 24
Hospitalized: 5
Kootenai County — 48 cases, 0 deaths
Benewah County — 0 cases, 0 deaths
Bonner County — 4 cases, 0 deaths
Boundary County — 0 cases, 0 deaths
Shoshone — 0 cases, 0 deaths
TOTAL — 48 cases, 0 deaths
COVID-19 BY AGE GROUP
18 years and under — 5
19 to 49 years — 22
50 years and over — 25
COVID-19 BY SEX
Female — 22
Male — 30
Unknown — 0
Information: panhandlehealthdistrict.org/covid-19