COVID cases surge again in Panhandle
(Image courtesy PANHANDLE HEALTH DISTRICT) Panhandle Health District reported 56 new COVID-19 cases in the Idaho Panhandle. None of the new cases were reported in Boundary County, leaving the community as the only one in the five northern counties without an active confirmed case.
SANDPOINT — The Panhandle Health District reported 56 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus on Wednesday, including five new cases in Bonner County.
The new cases brings the total number of cases in Idaho’s five northern counties to 592. Kootenai County has 514 cases, while Bonner County has 44 cases, according to the health district. Benewah County has 15 cases and 12 cases involve residents whose primary county residency is undetermined. Shoshone County has six cases, PHD said.
Boundary County, meanwhile, logged its second case on Wednesday.
The new Boundary County case involves a man in his 40s who has mild symptoms and is isolating himself at home, Boundary County Emergency Management said. It’s the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in a resident who is currently living in Boundary County.
The first case involved a female in her 20s whose home address is in Boundary County, but she contracted the virus while traveling outside the state, according to Boundary County Emergency Management.
“Boundary County and PHD have been coordinating with local healthcare facilities and emergency response agencies since March to assist with planning and preparedness for the eventual spread of COVID-19 into the county,” said Andrew O’Neel, director of emergency management.
Panhandle Health said 179 residents are no longer being monitored for the virus, which caused 22 hospitalizations.
Kootenai County has 377 active cases and one fatality, PHD said in a post to its Facebook page. Bonner County has 26 active cases and all six of Shoshone County remain active. Three of the undetermined residency cases also remain active. Benewah County has one active case.
The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare reported 430 confirmed or probable cases of the virus, lifting the statewide total to 8,969 cases. The virus is blamed for 98 deaths across the state.
The Northeast Tri-County Health District in Washington state said there are 29 cases within its bounds, but no new cases emerged on Wednesday. Stevens County has 21 cases and Pend Oreille County has seven cases. Ferry County has one case which claimed the person’s life.
There were nine new cases within the last 14 days, according to NETCHD.
The Montana State Department of Public Health reported 44 new cases in the state on Wednesday. Lincoln County has nine cases, while Sanders County has none.
Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.