SANDPOINT — There was just one new COVID-19 case in Bonner County Friday, with the county noting a total of 286 cases since the start of the pandemic. Panhandle Health District officials said 32 of those cases are considered active.

In all, PHD reports the five northern counties added 43 cases, with a total of 3,085 cases with 55 deaths since the start of the pandemic. There are currently 17 people hospitalized due to COVID-19 in the five northern counties.

Boundary County added no new novel coronavirus cases, with 55 cases reported in the county since the start of the pandemic with one death. Eight of the county’s cases are considered active.

Kootenai County added 41 new cases on Friday, with a total of 2,444 cases since the start of the pandemic. PHD officials said 183 of the county's cases are considered active.

Shoshone County added no new cases for the third straight day Friday, with a total at 210 COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic. The district said six of those cases remain active. Benewah County had one new case Friday, with 133 cases since the start of the pandemic, 19 of which are active, PHD said.

The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare reported 470 new confirmed or probable infections, elevating the statewide total to 36,959 cases resulting in 438 deaths.

The Northeast Tri-County Health District in Washington state said the health district reported eight new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, with all of the cases are in Stevens County, with seven of the cases at Colville area skilled nursing facility and the eighth in the Cheweleah area.

In the past week and a half, nine COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in residents at Buena Vista Healthcare in Colville. Six of the cases were confirmed Thursday, Sept. 17, by NETCHD. An additional case linked to this outbreak was detected Friday, Sept. 18. This follows confirmation of two COVID-19 cases reported in the prior week at the facility.

NETCHD and Washington State Department of Health are working directly with Buena Vista management to complete facility wide testing and assist with guidance for limiting further transmission. Facility-wide testing was completed on Tuesday, Sept. 15, for residents and staff. Nearly half of the test results of the 111 residents and staff tested have been received by Northeast Tri County Health District, however it may take several days to receive the remaining test results.

Of the confirmed cases currently linked to the outbreak, seven are residents and two are staff members. Staff members who tested positive are isolating at home. The residents who tested positive are being isolated in the facility, exposed residents who are close contacts are in quarantine and separated from the residents who tested negative.

Buena Vista Healthcare continues to work alongside state and federal agencies as well as monitor and adopt measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 cases.

"This outbreak is deeply concerning for the residents, staff, and their families," NETCHD officials said in a press release. "We urge everyone to be mindful of personal activities that may increase the risk of transmission and put our most vulnerable populations at risk. Wear a mask when around others, stay home when you are sick, and practice social distancing."

The health district also reported the death of a Stevens County patient previously hospitalized and receiving medical care, with confirmed COVID-19. The delay in reporting this information was to verify that the passing of this individual accurately met the definition of a COVID-related death by the Washington State Department of Health.

"This saddening news is a sobering reminder that the effects of this virus are not the same for everyone and not everyone will recover," NETCHD officials said. "By doing our part and taking necessary precautions we can help protect our family, friends, and loved ones."

Pend Oreille County has had 58 confirmed cases with one case in the last 14 days. Stevens County has had 143, with 17 cases reported in the past 14 days with two deaths since the start of the pandemic. Ferry County has has 29 cases, with one in the last 14 days.

The Montana Department of Public Health reported 224 new confirmed cases on Friday, bringing the statewide total to 9,871 cases, 146 of which resulted in fatalities.

Lincoln County has had 104 cases since the outbreak began, with six of them considered active. The county has had three deaths since the start of the pandemic. The state said Sanders County has had 44 cases over the course of the pandemic, although only three of them are active. The county has had one death connected to COVID-19, Montana public health officials said