North Idaho positivity rate increases, but remains low

The coronavirus positivity rates for Idaho, the Panhandle Health District and Kootenai County rose slightly for the week ending April 3, but still remain low, according to the state’s website.

Idaho’s positivity rate, based on 23,537 tests, was 5.6%, up from 5.2% the previous week. Four months ago, Dec. 5, it reached a high of 19%.

PHD’s rose to 4% based on 2,527 PCR tests. It was 2.9% the previous week. Its high was 23% on Jan. 2.

Kootenai County’s positivity rate also rose to 4% based on 1,787 tests. It was 2.9% the previous week. It reached a high of 27% on Jan. 2.

PHD reported 35 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, with 25 of those in Kootenai County. PHD’s single-day record for new cases is 410 set on Dec. 9. It had a low of 7 new cases on March 5 over the past 10 months.

According to the state’s website, 518,435 Idahoans have been vaccinated as of Friday, which is 28% of the state’s population.

The number of COVID-19 related deaths in the PHD is 288.