Coronavirus positivity rates for the state, Panhandle Health District and Kootenai County are at their lowest in five months, according to the Idaho Division of Public Health

The state’s positivity rate dropped to 6.5% based on 26,319 PCR tests for the week ending Dec. 11. Three months ago it was 17%.

The PHD’s rate declined to 7.5% based on 2,549 PCT tests on Dec. 11. It was 23% on Oct. 2.

Kootenai County’s positivity rate dropped to 7.4% based on 1,822 PCR tests. It hasn’t been that low since July 17.

State health officials have said the goal is a 5% positivity rate.

Despite the declining numbers, health officials remind people not to drop their guard and urge them to get vaccinated and get booster shots, too.

They say both the delta and omicron variants remain a threat.

According to the state website, Kootenai County was at 35% of those fully vaccinated with one booster dose.

In the PHD, 41% of those 5 and older are fully vaccinated. That’s the lowest of Idaho’s seven health districts. The highest is the Central Health District at 60%.

Kootenai Health had 53 COVID-19 inpatients on Thursday, with 25 in critical care. In early October, it had 150 COVID patients and 43 in critical care.

The virus continues to take a heavier toll on older people.

Kootenai County has had 474 deaths attributed to the coronavirus, with 6 of those, 1.3%, people under the age of 40. Most deaths, 429, or 90%, were those age 60 and older.