Coeur d’Alene, ID: On July 23, 2020, the Board of Health for the Panhandle Health District approved an order making face masks mandatory in Kootenai County. For specifics about the order and the exceptions to wearing a mask, please go https://panhandlehealthdistrict.org/news/. The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging the community to educate themselves on what the order says by going to the above website as there are several exemptions.
By state law, this order is a misdemeanor offense that could result in a fine or possible jail time. With that being said, the Sheriff’s Office is responsible for enforcing the laws of the State of Idaho and Kootenai County. Therefore any Covid 19 mask wearing violations will be dealt with on a case by case basis. We will favor education over enforcement and will take a measured response to enforcement with a strong focus on warnings.
If you have a question about the order and it’s parameters you are asked to contact the Panhandle Health District at 208-415-5100.
Sheriff Ben Wolfinger
By: Lt. Ryan Higgins