Coronavirus news & resources
Local news, announcements and actions concerning the coronavirus.

Current local and regional coronavirus case reports 12/16/2021 @ 5:05 p.m.

• Hospitals activate “Crisis Standards of Care.” Get details

The Panhandle Health District on Thursday reported 10 additional COVID-19 cases in Bonner County the past day, with 75 new cases overall but no deaths reported in the five northern counties that comprise the health district. There have been 754 total deaths reported to date in the health district. There have been a total 43,877 COVID cases reported to date, with 2,665 hospitalizations and 754currently hospitalized.

The ongoing high case numbers has created approximately 263 backlogged cases. Case statistics below by county in the health district include new cases reported in the past day, but may include some numbers from backlogged cases which skew totals:

• Bonner County: 10 new cases, 6,659 total | 136 deaths
• Boundary County: 2 new cases, 1,730 total | 50 deaths
• Kootenai County: 54 new cases, 31,646 total | 474 deaths
• Shoshone County: 4 new cases, 2,201 total | 65 deaths
• Benewah County: 5 new cases, 1,643 total | 29 deaths

The health district provides assessments of each county’s risk levels as guidance for business and school operations. On Thursday all five counties remained assessed at red, the highest risk level, after moving up from minimal and moderate levels in August. Click for risk level criteria. For Panhandle Health District’s latest news releases, click to its News page or Facebook @PanhandleHealth.

Current Idaho statewide case reports 12/16/2021 @ 5:00 p.m.
As ongoing high numbers of COVID-19 infections continue to strain resources, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare says case data may be incomplete. On Thursday, Idaho state reported there were 382 new confirmed and probable virus cases statewide the past day, for a total of 313,423 cases to date. There were three additional deaths reported statewide the past day, bringing the total COVID deaths at 4,060 deaths statewide. Idaho reporting showed 1,323 Idahoans were tested for COVID the past day, bringing the total tests performed statewide to date to 1,072,183. As of Thursday, 136,355 of the total confirmed cases around the state are reported recovered. There have been 13,808 cases hospitalized to date, with 2,322 admissions to ICU.

Local and regional vaccination providers 12/16/2021
Idaho has opened COVID-19 vaccinations to all individuals age 12 and over. Local pharmacies take walk-in appointments, or you may schedule an appointment in advance. The State of Idaho has a pre-registration system where you can sign up for an appointment at local or nearby providers, or use its tools to find locations for a walk-in vaccination. Click for info.

• For personalized help, click to the Idaho COVID Help Now Line.

Current county and state vaccination counts 12/16/2021
The Idaho COVID-19 dashboard on Thursday reported a total 880,461 people in Idaho are fully vaccinated, up from 879,233 reported the previous day and comprising 56.5% of the population age 12 and up. Nationally, 70.5% of the population age 12 and older is fully vaccinated. In Bonner County, the state reported a total 17,626 people are fully vaccinated, an increase of 99 from the previous day and constituting 40% of the total population including children age 5 and older.

Breaking and recent news coverage of coronavirus surge 12/13/2021
Stories from regional health care authorities and media on the COVID-19 surge that is straining health and hospital capacities locally and statewide.

Dec. 10: Fast-spreading Omicron variant identified in Idaho
The new omicron strain of the coronavirus that has been spreading quickly around the world has arrived in Idaho, as an Ada County resident has been diagnosed with it. So far it seems to produce mild illnesses, but health officials say it’s much more contagious and transmissible.Click for Idaho Statesman story.

Nov. 22: North Idaho counties stay on crisis care standards
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced that crisis standards of care were being deactivated statewide, except for the five North Idaho counties where hospitals must continue to ration health care due to overloaded facilities and staff. Click for Idaho Statesman story.

Nov. 3: Vaccinated Idahoans have low rate of ‘breakthrough’ cases
Idaho Health and Welfare officials say some COVID-19 infections in vaccinated people known as a breakthrough cases are occurring, but the number is low. As of Nov. 3, there were 834,490 Idahoans who are fully vaccinated. Of those, 14,619 have experienced a breakthrough case, which accounts for 1.75% of Idahos fully vaccinated population. Click for Idaho Statesman story.

Sept. 7: Area hospitals activate ‘Crisis Standards of Care’
With the surge of COVID-19 patients overtaking available hospital beds and resources, the major hospitals in North Idaho including Bonner General Health in Sandpoint and Kootenai Health in CdA on September 7 activated Crisis Standards of Care. The standards are used in emergency situations when there are not enough healthcare resources to provide the usual standard of care to people who need it. For details click to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

Free food resources for local families and residents
Here are food resources for those impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

• Expanded student meals. The Lake Pend Oreille School District provides free breakfast and lunch on weekdays, to those 18 years and under regardless of household income utilizing federal funding from the USDA. Details and applications at the district website, LPOSD.org.
• Bonner Community Food Bank continues services but click to Food Bank website to check any changes in operations.
• Free weekly meals. Everyone is welcome to take part in these free meals provided each week by churches and businesses: North Summit Church provide free meals to families in need. Pick up Mon-Fri 4-6 p.m. at 201 N. Division St, or Sagle Community of Christ Church, 950 Sagle Rd. (208) 263-4818
  Hoot Owl Cafe, Highway 200 in Ponderay, serves free dinners to go Mondays, 4-7 p.m. Just swing by.
  Agape Cafe hosted by the Seventh Day Adventist Church serves free lunch Tuesday 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at 221 S. Division (Church of God). (208) 263-3648
  United Methodist Church, 711 Main St, offers free dinners Thursdays 4-6 p.m., either indoors on site or to-go. No need to call ahead.
  St. Joseph Catholic Church, 601 S. Lincoln in Sandpoint, has free packaged to-go meals Fridays 4-6 pm. No need to call ahead. Enter at side door.
• Other businesses and service groups are offering free food and meals. Go to Sandpoint Community Resource Center for current info and daily schedules.

Personal health resources
If you believe you may have the coronavirus, the Panhandle Health District has a hotline with operators to discuss symptoms and potentially provide a referral for testing. The PHD COVID-19 Hotline is 877-415-5225.

• Go to PHD’s COVID-19 page

Links to help manage personal and family health:

• CDC Coronavirus Website
• CDC Cleaning / Disinfection Guidelines
• State of Idaho Coronavirus Website
• State of Washington Coronavirus Website
• Global Cases | Johns Hopkins world cases | Worldometer U.S. cases

U.S. border is now open to Canadians 12/13/2021
After a border closure of more than 18 months, vaccinated travelers from Canada and Mexico are again allowed to enter the United States by land for nonessential travel as of November. Although Canada re-opened its border to Americans in early August, the U.S. border had remained closed to travelers from Canada since March 21, 2020. Click for Spokesman-Review story. For Americans to enter Canada, a full COVID-19 vaccination must be completed at least 14 days prior to entry; entry will be denied to travelers who are not vaccinated. Vaccinated travelers don’t need to quarantine unless they show COVID-19 symptoms. However, all visitors must prepare quarantine plans. The land border closures had stopped all non-essential travel through the two Idaho border crossing stations at Porthill and Eastport, 60 miles north of Sandpoint.

Help for businesses from SBA, state, Bonner EDC 3/26/2021
The U.S. Government has enacted multiple programs to assist businesses financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection Program, Shatter Venues Grants and more. The State of Idaho also has assistance programs for Idaho companies, while locally the Bonner County Economic Development Corporation can provide guidance. Click links for more details.

Disaster relief resources from Idaho Department of Commerce.
Small Business Administration COVID relief programs.
Access local resources at Bonner County EDC.

‘Support Local’ listings of business operations

Sandpoint’s restaurants, shops, services, and churches have re-opened! With the state progressing through the governor’s Idaho Rebounds stages to ensure safe re-opening of economic and social activities, most Sandpoint businesses have opened their doors. Click to the Support Local business directory to find info on hours and operations. Provided by the Sandpoint Chamber and Sandpoint Online. All businesses are invited to add their information with the form on the listings page.

• Click to the business guide: www.bit.ly/SupportSandpoint

Free public Internet hot spot activated downtown 3/27/2020
Ting, in conjunction with the City of Sandpoint and Matchwood Brewing, has activated a free drive-up hot spot for wi-fi Internet in the city parking lot directly east of Matchwood at 503 Oak Street. The free Internet is available 6 a.m.-10 p.m.