Hospitalizations rise to 19; mayors say they don’t support issuing mask mandate

COEUR d’ALENE — The Panhandle Health District reported 110 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday, which increased the total cases to 1,240.

Nineteen people are hospitalized, up eight from Friday.

Kootenai Health spokeswoman Kim Anderson sent a letter Monday to area mayors pointing out that “over the weekend the situation has become more critical.

“Our ICU is currently at capacity,” she wrote.

“We are increasingly concerned that without a community-wide masking mandate, our health care community (and eventually our businesses and schools) will soon be in an impossible situation,” she wrote.

Anderson wrote that long-term care facilities are refusing to accept COVID-19 patients because they do not want the disease to spread to other residents. Because patients cannot be discharged without a plan for continuing care, without a place that will accept them, “we cannot discharge these patients so their bed can be used for someone who requires hospitalization,” she wrote.

She wrote that Kootenai Health is working to incentivize nurses to take extra shifts because it does not have enough staff to care for patients under their regular schedules.

She also wrote that the rate at which staff members are using personal protection equipment has increased significantly.

Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson, responding to questions from The Press, wrote that he has had no intention of issuing a mask mandate, “but rather to strongly encourage people to wear masks in public.”

“The recent numbers provided by Kootenai Health are of great concern. That being said, mandating masks creates an enforcement issue that local law enforcement officials feel will be difficult, or impossible to be carried out. I have, and will continue to listen to the medical experts.”

Jacobson wrote that he has received many emails on this topic, most of which are against a mandate.

Many of those emails in opposition are cut and paste emails and are sent from people outside Post Falls. In addition, many of the emails mention civil rights and some believe COVID is nothing to worry about.

“I do believe a mask mandate is legal and I do believe COVID is very serious,” Jacobson wrote. “I do not want to see the state move backwards and close businesses. I feel it is critical that businesses remain open and I feel that wearing masks and social distancing lessens that possibility.”

“In summary, I am not inclined to issue a mask mandate, but if Panhandle Health or the State choose to do so, I would be supportive,” he wrote. “This type of action has to be county, region or state wide, and not city by city. Those who choose not to wear masks or not to adhere to social distancing exacerbate the problem. I have chosen to wear a mask and will continue to do so.”

Hayden Mayor Steve Griffitts said he has received many emails and calls from people both in support of and in opposition to a mask mandate.

He said he has studied information on the coronavirus and “prayed to help me make the correct decisions for the citizens of my city.”

“I believe that the answer is not in mandates or force,” he wrote. “The answer is in compassion and caring for our fellow men and women. If wearing a mask can help my neighbors to possibly avoid being sick, and if wearing a mask will allow the economy to continue to move forward, then it makes sense for me to wear a mask when I am in enclosed public areas. There might be some who do not want to wear a mask, or can not wear a mask. They have a right to make that decision.”

Mandates are difficult “or impossible” to enforce, Griffitts wrote.

“The real issue is how am I treating my neighbor. Am I showing kindness and concern? We are all free to choose our direction in life, except when it puts others in jeopardy or risk,” he wrote. “There are laws that I must follow as I drive a vehicle. There are laws and directions that I should follow as I deal with financial aspects of my life. I should not disregard others’ opinions or concerns.

“My hope, is that our community becomes more united in our desire to take care of others.”

Kootenai County’s coronavirus count rose to 1,059 on Monday, an increase of 93. Of those, 637 are considered active cases.

Benewah County rose seven to 29 cases on, Bonner County rose nine to 100, Boundary County rose two to 11 cases, and Shoshone County rose eight to 27, PHD said. There are 14 undetermined cases.

PHD reported the age group of 18-29 has by far the most COVID-19 cases at 398. The 30-39 age group, at 212 cases, is the second highest, which means those two age groups account for more than half the total cases.

Females are being affected more, with 667 cases while 571 cases are among males.

There has been one death in Kootenai County attributed to the coronavirus.

Health officials continue to encourage people to practice social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks when in public places by others.

When restaurants, salons and gyms reopened May 16 under Gov. Brad Little’s Rebound Idaho plan, PHD reported 68 coronavirus cases, with 64 in Kootenai County.