PHD announces COVID-19 cases

BONNERS FERRY — The Panhandle Health District reported 24 new confirmed or probable cases of novel coronavirus on Wednesday.

Boundary County has had 44 cases since the outbreak began with one new case over the past week. Three of the cases remain active, the district said.

The new cases bring the total number of cases in the five northern counties since the pandemic began to 2,784. The district said 2,439 of the cases are closed, meaning a resident is no longer being monitored, has refused monitoring or has died.

The virus, which causes COVID-19, is blamed for 48 deaths, one of which is in Boundary County, 30 of which occurred in Kootenai County. There have been 15 deaths in Shoshone County, and two deaths in Benewah County, according to PHD. No deaths connected to COVID-19 have been reported in Bonner County.

Bonner County has had 226 cases during the pandemic, 22 of which remain active.

Kootenai County added 17 cases on Wednesday, bringing that county's total to 2,200, 235 of which remain active, the health district said.

Shoshone County has no new cases on Wednesday. That county has had 196 cases since the start of the pandemic, 60 of which remain active. Benewah County added four new cases, bringing its total to 117, 25 of which remain active, according to PHD.

The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare reported 280 cases on Wednesday, bringing the statewide total to 32,368. The department said the virus has claimed the lives of 368 Idahoans.

The Northeast Tri-County Health District in Washington state reported one new case in Pend Oreille County on Wednesday, bringing the regional total to 205 confirmed cases. Pend Oreille County has 56 confirmed cases, while Stevens and Ferry counties have 124 and 25 cases, respectively.

The Montana State Department of Public Health reported 93 new confirmed cases on Wednesday, lifting the statewide total to 7,509 confirmed cases and 105 deaths.

Sanders County added six new confirmed cases on Wednesday, elevating the county's total to 37 cases over the course of the pandemic, 16 of which remain active. The state said no new cases were added in Lincoln County, which has had 89 cases, six of which remain active.