COVID-19 positivity rate rises again

The positivity rate of the coronavirus rose for the fifth straight week in Kootenai County, reaching 17% and well up from 4% just five weeks ago.

The state’s positivity rate climbed for the eighth straight week to 12.8%, its highest since Jan. 2, while the Panhandle Health District’s reached 16%, its highest in seven months.

Health officials have stated the goal is 5% and lower.

The state reported 795 new COVID-19 cases and one death attributed to the coronavirus on Thursday, while the PHD reported 111 new COVID-19 cases.

Gov. Brad Little on Thursday released a commentary calling for Idahoans to get vaccinated to help stop the spread of the delta variant officials say is behind the latest virus surge.

“Our main defense in ensuring the new school year is entirely in-person – free from outbreaks and quarantines – is the COVID-19 vaccine,” he said.

Little, as he has several times recently, again said the vaccine is safe and the risk of death or serious injury “is extremely low.”

“While dysfunction persists in the Biden White House at the national level – with failed approaches on the border crisis, Afghanistan, and the pandemic – Idahoans here at home can control what happens in our schools and our communities by choosing to receive the vaccine and giving students our best shot at keeping them in school,” he wrote.

Some are taking the governor’s message to heart.

In the past week, 8,906 Idahoans were fully vaccinated, bringing the state’s total of those who have completed their vaccination shots to 713,048, though a booster shot is now being recommended by health officials.

In Kootenai County, 1,283 residents 12 and older received at least one shot in the past week, raising the number of those 12 and older with at least one shot to 62,781, 44% of the county’s population.

And in the PHD, 1,025 people became fully vaccinated in the last week, increasing that number to 81,807 residents 12 and older, 39% of the population.

Kootenai Health reported it has 84 COVID-19 patients, with 35 of those requiring critical care. The hospital said Wednesday it is operating near capacity.

A staffing shortage of more than 500, combined with the increased coronavirus patients, has pushed staff and resources near their limits.

"Kootenai Health’s ability to care for COVID-19 patients is dependent on a combination of beds, equipment and qualified staff," according to Danny Klocko, Kootenai Health’s chief human resources officer.

In a statement, Kootenai Health also urged people to get vaccinated, wear masks in public and avoid large crowds.

“Kootenai Health and its medical staff have explored every possible option to ensure care is available for everyone who needs it,” the statement said. “We are now imploring our community to add their efforts to ours.”