The Panhandle Health District reported 221 new cases of the coronavirus and the state reported 553 new cases over a three-day period including the weekend and Monday.

Gov. Brad Little will speak on the situation at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon during a Department of Health and Welfare media briefing about COVID-19 in Idaho.

The rise in new cases has increased calls for more people to get vaccinated. While many remain hesitant, health officials say the vaccines are safe.

“All COVID vaccines distributed in Idaho have been rigorously tested on tens of thousands of Americans before they were approved,” wrote Katherine Hoyer, PHD spokeswoman, in response to questions from The Press. “This is well-established science that can be trusted. In fact, none of the vaccines being used in the United States have caused any serious side effects.”

In Kootenai County, 42% of the population 12 and older (60,002) has received at least one vaccination shot, while Ada County, in comparison, is at 61% (251,679).

In the PHD, 38% (79,877) of the population is fully vaccinated, second-lowest in the state. The highest percentage of those fully vaccinated belongs to the Central District at 55%.

In Idaho, 756,185 of those 12 and older, about 50%, have received at least one dose.

The state’s positivity rate for the coronavirus almost doubled in a week. It rose to 8% based on 15,036 PCR tests for the week ending July 24, up from 4.3% based on 15,011 PCR tests for the week ending July 17.

PHD’s positivity rate for the virus jumped to 10.3%, the highest in nearly six months, while Kootenai County’s rose to 9.7%, more than double the 4% for the week ending July 10, according to the state’s website.

Meanwhile, Kootenai Health is also seeing a rise in coronavirus patients. It had 38 COVID-19 patients on Monday, with 16 of those receiving critical care.

Hoyer said PHD understands skepticism about safety and concerns about side effects was exacerbated immediately following the brief pause of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine when health concerns arose.

She wrote there is a plausible causal relationship between J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine and a rare and serious adverse event — blood clots with low platelets. She wrote that it occurs at a rate of about 7 per 1 million vaccinated women between 18 and 49 years old. For women 50 years and older and men of all ages, this adverse event is even more rare, Hoyer wrote.

In the PHD, 331 deaths have been attributed to the virus, with 312 of those age 60 or older. There has been one death of a person under the age of 29 in the PHD attributed to the virus.

PHD urges those who have not been vaccinated to do so.

“It’s been over a year since the vaccines have come out and there have been no long-term side effects for anyone who has taken it,” Hoyer wrote. “You’ve waited long enough. Once you’re ready, the vaccine will be waiting for you at Panhandle Health District, your local pharmacy or any other enrolled provider you wish to receive it from.”