Bonner County has first COVID-19 case

The Panhandle Health District and Kootenai Health have confirmed additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases to 27 in the Panhandle area.

The cases are in Kootenai County and the first case was confirmed in Bonner County.

Bonner County Emergency Operations Center said the Bonner County case involves a male in his 60s who is now self-isolating at home. This case appears to be acquired through community transmission, BCEOC officials said.

Contact tracing is ongoing by PHD and there is no further information available at this time, BCEOC officials said.

Details on the new cases are listed below. The Panhandle area includes the five northern counties (Kootenai, Shoshone, Benewah, Bonner, and Boundary).

“It appears that we have community transmission in Kootenai County,” Katherine Hoyer, PHD public information officer, said. “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. We know practicing social distancing strategies can slow the spread of this virus, but we need everyone to do their part.”

• Case 12: Male in his 60s from Kootenai County. He is self-isolating at home. This case appears to be travel related. Contact tracing is ongoing.

• Case 13: Female in her 60s from Kootenai County. She is self-isolating at home. This case appears to be acquired through community transmission. Contact tracing is ongoing.

• Case 14: Female in her 50s from Kootenai County. She is self-isolating at home. This case appears to be acquired through community contact with a confirmed case. Contact tracing is ongoing.

• Case 15: Male under the age of 18 from Kootenai County. He is self-isolating at home. This case appears to be acquired through community contact with a confirmed case. Contact tracing is ongoing.

• Case 16: Male in his 50s from Kootenai County. He is self-isolating at home. This case appears to be acquired through community transmission. Contact tracing is ongoing.

• Case 17: Male in his 60s from Kootenai County. He is self-isolating at home. This case appears to be acquired through community contact with a confirmed case. Contact tracing is ongoing.

• Case 18: Female in her 20s from Kootenai County. She is self-isolating at home. This case appears to be acquired through community transmission. Contact tracing is ongoing.

• Case 19: Male 18 years old or younger from Kootenai County. He is self-isolating at home. This case appears to be acquired through community transmission. Contact tracing is ongoing.

• Case 20: Male in his 30s from Kootenai County. He is self-isolating at home. This case appears to be acquired through community transmission. Contact tracing is ongoing.

• Case 21: Female in her 40s from Kootenai County. She is self-isolating at home. Contact tracing is ongoing.

• Case 22: Female in her 30s from Kootenai County. She is self-isolating at home. This case appears to be acquired through community transmission. Contact tracing is ongoing.

• Case 23: Male in his 40s from Kootenai County. He is self-isolating at home. This case appears to be acquired through community transmission. Contact tracing is ongoing.

• Case 24: Individual in their 60s from Kootenai County. Individual is self-isolating at home. This case appears to be acquired through community transmission. Contact tracing is ongoing.

• Case 25: Male in his 50s from Kootenai County. He is self-isolating at home. Contact tracing is ongoing.

• Case 26: Female in her 20s from Kootenai County. She is self-isolating at home. This case appears to be acquired through community transmission. Contact tracing is ongoing.

• Case 27: Male in his 60s from Bonner County. Contact tracing is ongoing.

In the United States, there have been 103,321 cases and 1,668 deaths as of March 28, 2020 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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.

PHD will continue to monitor the situation closely and are working with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, city and county leaders, schools, emergency management, healthcare providers, and our community at large to help prevent the spread of this virus.

People ill with this 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 they become severe, 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 prescribed period of time.