COVID-19 deaths hit 1,000 in North Idaho

COEUR d’ALENE — The variety of deaths attributed to COVID-19 within the Panhandle Well being District just lately hit 1,000.

“Via the pandemic, we even have had over 3,500 north Idahoans hospitalized with COVID-19,” wrote Katherine Hoyer, PHD spokeswoman. “This has a big impression on households, livelihoods, and our group as an entire.”

The well being district encompasses Idaho’s 5 northern counties: Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, Benewah and Shoshone. Statewide, there have been a complete of 5,109 deaths associated to COVID-19.

Of the 1,000 COVID-19 associated deaths within the PHD, 91% have been individuals over the age of 60, whereas 1.2% have been individuals below the age of 40, in keeping with PHD’s COVID-19 dashboard.

Six-hundred and twenty-five of the deaths have been in Kootenai County, whereas 191 have been in Bonner County; 879 in Shoshone County; 64 in Boundary County and 41 in Benewah County.

Dr. Robert Scoggins of Kootenai Well being stated COVID continues to have an effect on the well being of many in the neighborhood and continues to result in hospital admissions and dying.

“Whereas the numbers have decreased, the have an effect on on sufferers, households and the health-care professionals who look after these sufferers is profound,” he stated.

Scoggins stated Kootenai Well being nonetheless recommends stopping an infection by way of avoiding high-risk conditions, carrying a masks when applicable, social distancing and vaccination.

“Stopping an infection could not simply be essential to you, it could save the life of somebody you recognize,” he stated.

Kootenai Well being’s Dr. Todd Hoopman stated COVID-19 continues to impression the hospital and the group.

“This impression is felt within the hospital by way of elevated useful resource utilization to look after these sufferers in an inpatient setting,” he stated. “Moreover, we’re nonetheless seeing long-term problems of COVID-19 in sufferers with pulmonary points together with oxygen wants, persistent shortness of breath and pulmonary scarring/fibrosis.”

Hoopman stated vigilance of COVID-19 stays essential.

“We ask symptomatic sufferers to get examined and isolate if optimistic. Moreover, we’re nonetheless in very robust assist of vaccination and the advisable booster doses so as to scale back the severity of sickness, forestall unfold and shorten the course of sickness,” he stated.

PHD has had a complete of 62,421 COVID circumstances because it started conserving rely in early 2020, and most just lately processed 161 new circumstances.

There are presently 18 hospitalizations districtwide, in keeping with PHD. Statewide hospitalizations have been 78 as of Aug. 27, down from 196 on July 31, in keeping with the state’s COVID-19 Dashboard.

The COVID-19 positivity charge within the PHD was 16.9% primarily based on 804 PCR checks for the week ending Aug. 20. That is down from 22% about six weeks in the past however nicely up from 1.4% 5 months in the past.

Kootenai County’s positivity charge was 14.5%, down from 24% on July 9.

North Idaho is an space the place a big share of its inhabitants declined to get vaccinated or put on masks, as advisable by most well being officers.

The county’s absolutely vaccinated charge of 43% is nicely below the state’s absolutely vaccinated charge of 52%, and the nation’s charge of 72%.

Hoyer stated now is a superb time to obtain the COVID vaccine or booster.

“With college beginning and cooler climate on the best way, extra individuals will probably be congregating indoors,” she wrote.

Hoyer wrote there are predictions {that a} booster shot focused particularly to the omicron BA.5 variant will change into obtainable this fall.