COVID-19 continues to spread in Boundary County

BONNERS FERRY — In the last few weeks, Boundary County has seen a dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases in the community.

Two weeks ago, the community has two confirmed cases of novel coronavirus, with one noted in an individual traveling outside the county and was not in the county while contagious. Last week, the county had eight confirmed cases, with seven considered active. This week, the county has 18 active cases and 20 since the start of the pandemic, according to Andrew O’Neel, director Boundary County Emergency Management.

“As a matter of concern and compassion for our neighbors, Boundary County officials strongly encourage residents to wear masks in public, especially in places where maintaining a six-foot distance between people is difficult,” O’Neel said in a press release last week. “While not mandatory, it is hope that our community will be united in our desire to take care of others who are more vulnerable.

“We cannot stop the spread of COVID-19 in Boundary County, but we can take measures to keep the spread to a manageable level so that it does not overwhelm our healthcare system or spread it to the most vulnerable members of our community.”

While some patients’ symptoms resemble those of allergies such as a runny nose, mild headache, and sore throat, symptoms can be much more severe and even life-threatening for our most vulnerable residents, such as senior citizens and people with underlying health conditions that weaken the immune system, O’Neel said.

Boundary County residents confirmed to have the virus are mostly in their 30s and 40s, though one patient is reportedly a young child and another gentleman is 76 years old.

Twenty-three percent of the county’s population is over the age of 65, “meaning that more than one out of every five of our neighbors is in a group that has been more vulnerable to experiencing the more severe and life-threatening symptoms” of COVID-19, he added.

Panhandle Health District continues to perform case investigations and contact tracing in an attempt to determine the sources of the new cases and isolate the virus to slow its spread across the county, said O’Neel.

The emergency management director said 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.

“The most useful measures we can take to slow the spread are to 1) maintain a 6-foot distance from people who are not in our household, and 2) wear a face covering while in public,” O’Neel said recently. “Some recent studies and anecdotal evidence in the healthcare community indicate that wearing a face covering reduces the chances of transmitting the virus.”

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 care provider and does not have medical insurance.

There are 1,105 cases in Kootenai County, while Bonner County has 102 cases, 96 of which are confirmed. Kootenai County has 1,094 confirmed cases and 11 probable cases. Benewah County has 29 cases, all of which have been confirmed. Benewah County has three active cases.

The virus has caused 50 hospitalizations. There are currently 22 hospitalizations and 547 people are no longer being monitored.

The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare tallied 556 new confirmed or probable cases of coronavirus on Monday, elevating the statewide total to 15,822 cases. The virus is blamed for 126 deaths in Idaho.

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