COVID-19 cases at 42 for Boundary County

BONNERS FERRY — Over the past week, Boundary County has seen five new COVID-19 cases, bringing its total to 42, all of which are lab-confirmed.

Fourteen of the cases in Boundary County are active, according to Panhandle Health District officials.

The virus, which causes COVID-19, has killed 22 people in Kootenai County, five people in Shoshone County and one person in Benewah County, the health district said.

The district said 31 new cases were counted in the Panhandle on Tuesday. There have been 2,497 cases in the five northern counties, 2,476 of which are confirmed through laboratory analysis, the district said.

Bonner County has amassed 192 cases since the outbreak began and 186 of those cases are lab-confirmed. The district said 30 cases remain active in Bonner County.

Kootenai County picked up 18 new cases on Tuesday, bringing that county’s total to 1,996. The district said 1,982 cases are lab-confirmed and 442 cases are active.

Shoshone County added four new cases on Tuesday, bringing the county’s total to 170. The district said 169 cases are lab-confirmed and 86 cases remain active.

Benewah County saw eight new cases on Tuesday, lifting the county’s total to 78 cases, all of which are lab-confirmed. The district said 21 of Benewah County’s cases are active.

The virus has caused 143 hospitalizations and 22 people remain hospitalized, the district said.

There are 19 cases involving people whose primary county of residency is undetermined. All 19 cases are lab-confirmed and three cases remain active.

The district said there are 1,901 closed cases, which means those residents are no longer being monitored, have refused monitoring or have died.

The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare reported 384 new confirmed or probable infections across the state on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 28,326. The state also recorded nine new deaths, bringing the statewide toll to 282.

The Northeast Tri-County Health District in Washington state reported no new confirmed cases of the virus on Tuesday. There are a total of 188 cases, with 49 in Pend Oreille County and 115 in Stevens County with one fatality. The health district said there are 24 cases in Ferry County.

The Montana State Department of Public Health reported 57 new confirmed cases on Tuesday, lifting the statewide total to 5,846 cases and 84 deaths. Sanders County has seen 18 infections over the course of the pandemic and nine of the cases remain active. The state said Lincoln County has had 79 cases, five of which remain active.

Health officials note the virus is spreading primarily through respiratory droplets exhaled in normal activities such as talking, singing, coughing, sneezing, and even breathing. Masks and social distancing can reduce the chances of spreading the virus through droplets spread during close social contact.

If residents do currently have or develop symptoms of any illness, they should stay at home. If symptoms get worse and require medical attention, residents should consult their primary medical care provider who can then decide whether a COVID-19 test is appropriate and can arrange for the test.

Close contacts to a confirmed-positive patient are advised to self-isolate at home for 5-8 days from the date of the contact before they get tested for COVID-19. The waiting period reduces the chances of the COVID-19 test resulting in a false-negative. If symptoms develop, they are advised to get tested as soon as possible. If a resident thinks they might have COVID-19 they should not leave their home except to seek medical attention.

Panhandle Health District provides over-the-phone assessments and answers questions on their COVID-19 Hotline at 1-877-415-5225. Panhandle Health District will only provide a COVID-19 test order for someone who does not have a primary health provider.

For current information about of COVID-19, go online to panhandlehealthdistrict.org/covid-19.