The Kootenai County Office of Emergency Management, activated by the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners’ Chairman Chris Fillios on Sunday, was extended indefinitely and unanimously by the board Tuesday morning.

This emergency declaration continues the county’s Emergency Operations Center for the COVID-19 event beyond the seven-day limit initiated Sunday, as long as deemed necessary.

The county asks that questions be directed to the Center of Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov or by calling Panhandle Health District Coronavirus information hotline at 877-415-5225 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The hotline received more than 300 phone calls Monday, according to PHD.

Fillios signed a disaster declaration Sunday to help combat the coronavirus and provide the county with federal and state resources. As a result of this declaration, the Office of Emergency Management activated the Emergency Operations Center.

The commissioners are investigating ways to seek additional testing resources within the county to widen the spectrum of individuals recommended for testing.

“Testing is the single most challenging component here,” said Joe Righello, Environmental and Health protection administrator for the Panhandle Health District.

COVID-19 tests still require a healthcare provider’s order after a doctor’s appointment. Righello said the federal government is currently trying to set up an online symptom checker to expedite the process to qualify for a COVID-19 test.