Local resident tests positive for COVID-19

BONNERS FERRY — While the community confirmed its first COVID-19 case last week, the woman from Boundary County in her 20s contracted the virus while out of state and was never infectious while in Boundary County.

The woman was tested while traveling out of state and remains out of state, Panhandle Health District officials said in announcing the case last Thursday.

The case, which is no longer being monitored, is counted as the first case in Boundary County being the community is considered the county of her residence. It is one of 341 cases in the Idaho Panhandle. Idaho is currently reporting 6,117 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases across the state, including 365 new cases reported Tuesday. A total of 92 Idahoans have died as a result of COVID-19.

Kootenai County has 188 active cases, with 283 cases total since the start of the pandemic. One person in the county, a man in his 70s, has died as a result of the virus. Bonner County has 25 active cases and 32 total since the start of the pandemic.

Benewah County has 3 active cases with 13 cases total since the start of the pandemic. Shoshone County has not had a confirmed case of COVID-19.

There are three active cases, and 12 total in the PHD, where the county of residence has not been determined.

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.

“We hope this was an isolated incident and we do not continue to see cases in Boundary County, but we need everyone to continue to practice the precautions,” Katherine Hoyer, PHD public information officer, said in reporting the case last week. “The precautions for avoiding COVID-19 are the same as those for avoiding the flu and common cold.”

Currently, there are no vaccines available to prevent novel coronavirus infections.

Idaho has seen a steadily increasing trend in new cases since early June.

“We have widespread and rapid community transmission in our area,” Hoyer said in a post to the health district’s Facebook page on Wednesday.

PHD officials said it is important for everyone to continue social distancing measures, such as avoiding large social gatherings, keeping a six-foot distance between people whenever possible, and wearing a cloth face covering when in public. These measures can help slow the spread of the virus in the community.

If you DO currently have or develop general flu-like symptoms that include cough, fever over 100.4 degrees, or difficulty breathing: stay at home. Call your medical provider if your symptoms get worse and you need medical care, or if you want to find out if you should be tested for COVID-19.

If community members have these symptoms or have been exposed to a confirmed case, 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.

COVID-19 testing data can be found at coronavirus.idaho.gov. For data specific to our area, look at PHD1.

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or were exposed to a confirmed case, please call our hotline to be assessed for a COVID-19 test (1-877-415-5225).

Information: panhandle healthdistrict.org/covid-19