SANDPOINT — No new cases of novel coronavirus emerged on Friday, according to the Panhandle Health District.

Kootenai County has 59 cases, while Bonner County has four. The virus that causes COVID-19 has not been detected in Boundary, Shoshone or Benewah counties, the health district said in its daily update on cases in the Panhandle region.

Clark Fork resident Craig Nelson said he suspects why there is such a large disparity between the number of cases in Bonner and Kootenai counties.

Nelson said The Home Depot in Ponderay is regulating the number of customers in its store in order to achieve social distancing. The Lowe’s in Coeur d’Alene, meanwhile, was packed to the gunwales. Checkout lines were 10-15 people deep, which made social distancing difficult.

Nelson believes the different approaches to social distancing in the two counties appears to be having an impact.

“Maybe Bonner County business are doing something different than Kootenai County resulting in a greater success,” he said.

Across the border in Washington, the Northeast Tri-County Health District also reported no new cases of coronavirus on Friday. The tri-county area has a total of 12 cases. Pend Oreille County has two cases, while Stevens and Ferry counties have one and nine cases, respectively.

The virus has not claimed any lives in the Panhandle, but has been attributed to one fatality in Stevens County, according to public health officials.

In northwestern Montana, no new cases emerged in Lincoln County, which has seven cases. The virus has not turned up in Sanders County, the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services said on Friday.

The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare said 34 new cases were added to the statewide tally on Friday, bringing the total number of cases to 1,870. The virus has claimed the lives of 54 Idaho residents, the department said.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.