Influenza A confirmed, but no coronavirus

Shoshone County COVID-19 update

KELLOGG — Confirmed cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in the Panhandle’s biggest county while the more rural surrounding counties remain relatively unaffected.

The Panhandle Health District reported on Thursday that there are 63 confirmed cases in North Idaho; 59 coming from Kootenai County and four in Bonner.

Panhandle counties of Shoshone, Benewah and Boundary continue to report zero positive tests.

Earlier this week, Shoshone Medical Center did report one positive case of Influenza A. This is the first positive case of Influenza that SMC has seen in roughly a month.

Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, the COVID-19 hub for the North Idaho region, showed on Wednesday that they had administered 3,515 tests to patients and had 98 results pending. On April 21 alone, Kootenai Health tested 96 patients.

While these results are already dated and do not differentiate what patients are from where, it does give one an idea of the facility’s progress and abilities.

At Shoshone Medical Center in Kellogg, Dr. David Lawhorn stresses that the staff continues to be ready if an official outbreak does occur.

COVID-19 tests are still not plentiful at SMC, Kootenai Health, or really any regional medical facility. Because of this, tests are still largely being reserved for individuals that classify as “high-risk,” such as the elderly and/or people with preexisting conditions. Around 80% of those who contract COVID-19 show little or no symptoms, even after the 2-14 day exposure period.

To be tested, residents must first show PHD that they have all the symptoms of the virus, then get an order from their doctor. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath. People have reported mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough and difficulty breathing.

Even though COVID-19 has most likely already made its way here and simply hasn’t been discovered, Dr. Lawhorn and the rest of SMC’s staff know that things could really heat up when that first patient is “officially” diagnosed.

While SMC is not releasing the number of people they have tested in-house, due to the number being incomplete with other facility numbers, COVID-19 testing has been and still is being carried out at their facility.

Both the hospital in Kellogg and the family medicine clinic in Smelterville continue to provide patient care, but patient care departments are currently limiting services or have been closed.

Among the services still offered by SMC, patients that may be suffering mental issues as a result of the stay-home order can call and be connected with a social worker.

For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Idaho, visit Idaho’s COVID-19 resource page.

For information and resources strictly pertaining to the Panhandle, visit PHD’s COVID-19 page.

If you have questions or are experiencing respiratory symptoms, contact Panhandle Health District at 877-415-5225 to be screened for possible COVID-19 testing.

If you require emergency or other patient services at SMC, please call ahead if possible to 208-784-1221 so preparations can be made.