Spokane County has added more than 1,400 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the first nine days of November.

In the last three days alone, the Spokane Regional Health District confirmed 712 cases. There are now 11,395 people who have had the disease. About 71% of them are considered recovered.

State health officials have called a press briefing for Tuesday as case counts are rising statewide, not just in the Inland Northwest. Washington state is seeing surging numbers of cases along with many other states as cold weather drives some people indoors, increasing the risk for spread.

The second wave to hit the Inland Northwest, which has not slowed down since September, continues to drive up case counts and hospitalizations.

There are 73 patients in Spokane hospitals receiving treatment for the virus, and 56 of them are Spokane County residents.

During the weekend four more residents died of the virus for a total of 220 COVID-19 deaths in Spokane County.

In North Idaho high case counts have created backlogs and delays for public health workers, making contact tracing nearly impossible.

The Panhandle Health District reported 350 new cases over the weekend and on Monday, as hospitalizations continue to rise there.

The district reported additional deaths from the virus for a total of 81 deaths from the virus in the five-county region. There are 47 residents hospitalized with the virus in the Panhandle, including 44 at Kootenai Health.