SANDPOINT — Bonner County declared a local state of emergency Tuesday due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The declaration mainly opens up the county’s spending authority and eases other requirements so the county can respond quickly to the pandemic. It also allows for the county to be reimbursed for expenses it incurs because of COVID-19.

“Basically, it gives us the ability if we have to spend any money on this issue — which we may or may not — it can be a reimbursable amount that can be given back to county taxpayers,” Commissioner Dan McDonald said on Tuesday.

McDonald gave the heads-up about the declaration on social media on Monday to allay concerns that it would infringe on residents’ rights. He called the declaration a standard operating procedure, which follows Gov. Brad Little’s statewide emergency declaration.

“I put it out last night on Facebook that it was coming because I didn’t want people to panic. It’s SOP,” he said.

Idaho has nine laboratory-confirmed cases of coronavirus, the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare said on Tuesday. Seventy-six people are being monitored by Idaho public health officials and 39 people are no longer being monitored.

A total of 295 people have been tested through the Idaho Bureau of Laboratories and another 58 people have been tested through commercial labs, according to Health & Welfare’s novel coronavirus online update page (coronavirus.idaho.gov)

Counties with confirmed cases include Ada, Blaine, Madison and Teton.

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