SANDPOINT — There were no new cases of COVID-19 in Idaho’s five northern counties on Saturday. Of the 48 novel coronavirus cases confirmed, 4 are in Bonner County and 44 are in Kootenai County.

There have been no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Boundary, Shoshone or Benewah counties, according to the Panhandle Health District.

The health district is also reemphasizing adherence to Gov. Brad Little’s stay-at-home order and Centers for Disease Control & Prevention guidelines for hygiene and social distancing due to evidence of community transmission in Kootenai County.

“Some of the confirmed cases are not connected to travel or contact with a confirmed case,” Katherine Hoyer, the district’s spokeswoman, said in a news release.

The virus has not claimed the lives of any Panhandle residents, according to the district.

Of the cases reported, 24 are no longer being monitored and five required hospitalization, according to PHD data.

*We won’t use the term “recovered” as that could be misleading because we don’t know if a person can contract COVID-19 more than once. We prefer to use the term “no longer monitoring,” Hoyer said.

A person is no longer being monitored when they have stayed home for the recommended period of time AND have not had a fever for at least 72 hours (that is three full days of no fever without the use medicine that reduces fevers) AND other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved) AND at least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared

Hospitalizations is a tally of total hospitalizations of confirmed cases. This does not mean these patients are currently hospitalized, only that they were hospitalized for COVID-19 and are also confirmed positive with COVID-19.

The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare said on Saturday that there were 11 new lab-confirmed cases, bringing the statewide total to 1,407 cases. The virus’ death toll stands at 27, according to Health & Welfare. There have been more than 14,300 tests.

The coronavirus has led to 131 hospitalizations and 38 admissions to intensive-care. Patients have ranged from as young as 2 years old to 98 years old, according to Health & Welfare.

Health & Welfare said there are 153 cases of COVID-19 among Idaho healthcare workers.

In the Panhandle, 23 of the residents with COVID-19 are over the age of 50, while 20 are in the 19- to 49-year-old age range. Five residents are under the age of 18, according to the health district. Twenty-eight of the Panhandle cases involve males and 20 involve females, the district said.

PHD officials said the health district is continuing 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. 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 general COVID-19 Information, details on what is an essential business, unemployment and food stamp information, mental health information, childcare and small business loans.

Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.