North Idaho COVID-19 cases hit 70

COEUR d’ALENE — The Panhandle Health District (PHD) announced the total number of cases of COVID-19 is 70 in the Panhandle area. Sixty-six of the cases are in Kootenai County and four in Bonner County.

Shoshone, Benewah, and Boundary counties still report zero confirmed cases.

Details on new cases will be posted on the PHD website page in real time: www.panhandlehealthdistrict.org/covid-19/.

PHD will make a daily announcement if there are confirmed cases within the Panhandle at noon, seven days a week.

PHD will continue to monitor the situation closely and are working with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, city and county leaders, schools, emergency management, healthcare providers, and our community at large to help prevent the spread of this virus.

People ill with coronavirus in other states and countries have reported mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.

If community members have these symptoms and are concerned, 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.

Call center’s hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Voicemails will be checked each weekday morning and on Saturdays at 1 p.m. PHD has adjusted the hours because of the decrease in call volume. If they begin to receive an increase, the hours will adjust accordingly.

Tested individuals must stay home until test results are received. If the test is positive, all household members must self-isolate at home for a recommended period of time.

Individuals may also call the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-330-3010. They can provide answers to the following:

• General COVID-19 Information

• Essential Businesses

• Unemployment and Food Stamps

• Mental Health

• Childcare

• Small Business loans