Health District: 52 COVID-19 cases in Panhandle
BONNERS FERRY — As of Tuesday afternoon, Boundary County continues to have no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.
BCH has had 30 negative tests for COVID-19 as of April 14 at 11 a.m. Seven tests are still pending. All COVID-19 samples accepted at BCH are sent to the Idaho State Lab for testing at this time. No new COVID-19 cases were reported by the Panhandle Health District on Tuesday.
There are 52 total cases in the five northern counties covered by the health district with 48 of the cases in Kootenai County and four in Bonner County. Benewah and Shoshone counties have no confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Details on new cases will be posted on the PHD website page in real time at panhandlehealthdistrict.org/covid-19/.
The Panhandle Health District announced several new cases of COVID19 in the Panhandle area on Wednesday, bringing the total to 52. 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 at panhandlehealthdistrict.org/covid-19/.
Five of the cases involve hospitalization of 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.
The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare reported 11 new lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the statewide total to 1,464 cases. The death toll in Idaho increased from 33 to 39 on Tuesday, according to Health & Welfare.
Governor Brad Little visited a staging area in Boise on Tuesday where Idaho is accepting and distributing medical supplies provided by private donors, the federal government and other sources.
“Right now, Idaho has enough personal protective equipment for our healthcare workers’ needs, and we are continuing to secure more medical supplies to further prepare us,” Little said. “The protection of our healthcare workers is a big part of preserving healthcare capacity, and ample personal protective equipment keeps them healthy and safe. Our goal from the start has been to slow the spread of coronavirus to protect lives and preserve healthcare capacity so we can get back to normal as quickly as possible.”
Little’s office reported that the state has a stockpile of 36,842 gowns, 44,888 face shields, 887,975 gloves, 5,518 coveralls, 100,690 N95 masks, 215,358 surgical masks and 88,992 sets of safety goggles.
The state of Montana, meanwhile, reported Tuesday five new cases of coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 399 cases. Lincoln and Sanders counties, both of which border Idaho, have seven and zero cases, respectively. Seven Montanans have died from the virus and there were 24 active hospitalizations.
The Northeast Tri-County Health District in Washington state reported nine cases within Pend Oreille, Stevens and Ferry counties. Pend Oreille and Ferry counties each have one case, while the other seven cases are located in Stevens County, where one person has succumbed to the virus, according to NETCHD.
Idaho Public Television unveiled on Tuesday its Classroom Idaho: Learn@Home program, which connects students with certified Idaho teachers so they can finish the balance of this school year.
The same lessons will also be available in playlists for students with connectivity at IdahoPTV’s YouTube channel.
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: http://panhandlehealthdistrict.org/covid-19