Fourth Bonner County COVID-19 case announced

The Panhandle Health District has announced announces several new cases of COVID19 in the Panhandle area, bringing the total to 48. Forty-four 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 at panhandlehealthdistrict.org/covid-19/.

All of the new cases had close contact with a confirmed case.

Five of the cases involve hospitalizationof the individual, according to the PHD on its website. Of the total number of confirmed cases, PHD is are no longer monitoring 24 individuals.

The health district is not using the term “recovered” as that could be misleading because it is unknown if a person can contract COVID-19 more than once. PHD is using the term “no longer monitoring” instead. 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 cough or shortness of breath have improved) AND at least 7 days have passed since 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.

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.

CONFIRMED CASES: 48

No longer monitored: 24

Hospitalized: 5

Kootenai County — 44 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 — 20

50 years and over — 23

COVID-19 BY SEX

Female — 20

Male — 28

Unknown — 0