Boundary County coronavirus cases back on the rise

BONNERS FERRY — After two weeks of a gradual decrease in coronavirus cases, Boundary County is seeing an uptick in cases just days before Thanksgiving.

A relatively steady and unalarming three months from early July to October soon gave way to an extreme, and steep, increase in cases. From Oct. 7 to Nov. 3, Boundary County’s seven-day moving average incidence rate increased from 4.7 to 84, a 1,787% increase in less than a month.

Combined with the onset of fall and Boundary County’s lack of mask precautions, the county saw a steep and dangerous increase in cases. In the seven-day period ending on Nov. 3, there were 73 reported cases of the coronavirus, an average of over 10 new cases per day.

The county saw a gradual decrease in the weeks after Halloween, culminating in a nadir of 26 confirmed cases in the seven-day period from Nov. 11-17. That gave Boundary County a 29.2 daily seven-day moving average incidence rate, its lowest in over a month.

However, since Nov. 17, Boundary County’s coronavirus cases have begun another sharp increase, this time right before Thanksgiving, when people will likely travel over the state and country to celebrate the holiday.

Since Nov. 17, Boundary County’s incidence rate has gone back up to 40.8 as of Nov. 24, a 140% increase in just one week. With Thanksgiving occurring this Thursday, that number could begin to increase at an even steeper rate in the coming days and weeks.

Boundary County also added its second COVID-19 death on Monday, Nov. 23. As of publication, Boundary County has 328 confirmed cases and two deaths.