Thursday, July 2, 2020

Holiday Weekend Advice: Stay Home, Stay Safe
As we enter the Independence Day weekend, Dubuque County is experiencing a significant increase in the number of new confirmed cases of COVID-19, including a record high today.  As a result, the Dubuque County Public Health Incident Management Team is reminding residents that the best way to limit the spread of the virus and to avoid infection is to stay home and avoid gatherings with people outside your household. If you choose to attend a gathering, please practice social/physical distancing and wear a mask or other face covering when around others.  

The incident management team also recommends those who learn they have had COVID-19 exposure (or potential exposure) to begin their 14-day isolation period immediately even if they are not able to get tested immediately.  The Dubuque Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) continues to offer COVID-19 guidance at 563.556.6200. 

July 2 Video Update: Learn more about the recent increases, especially among healthy young adults, and important tips to stay safe, from the Dubuque County Public Health Incident Management Team by watching today's video at: https://youtu.be/oQaB1vBxLPo

Test Iowa Clinic in Dubuque Continues

The Test Iowa Clinic at Epic Health & Wellness in Dubuque will continue to offer testing for any Iowa resident until further notice.  Testing will resume on Monday, July 6, and a schedule will be posted to www.testiowa.com.

Any Iowan who would like to be tested for COVID-19 at this location must first complete the Test Iowa assessment at www.testiowa.com. They will then be provided an identification number, which is required to be tested.  To take an assessment or request a test, visit www.testiowa.com. 

Residents without internet access or who need assistance completing the assessment should contact the Dubuque Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) for assistance at 563.556.6200.

Appointments are not being scheduled but you must complete the assessment and have an Iowa ID and your Test Iowa identification number in order to be tested.  There is no cost to individuals being tested and any Iowan who wants to be tested can be tested if they follow this procedure. A person does not need to be showing any symptoms. 

For more information, visit www.testiowa.com or call Test Iowa at 515-575-2131 or 844-844-1561 (toll free).

Record-high 59 New Cases in Dubuque County, 722 New Cases in Iowa

Positive Cases
Between 2 p.m. yesterday and 2 p.m. today, the IDPH reported 59 new positive cases of COVID-19 in Dubuque County, a record-high 24-hour increase that puts the county total at 595.  For the state, 722 additional cases were reported in that same time frame giving Iowa a total of 30,132 positive cases. 

Deaths

No additional deaths were reported in Dubuque County so the county total remains at 22.  No additional deaths were reported statewide, so the state death total remains 717. 

Testing
As of 2 p.m. today, the IDPH website reported that 11,125 Dubuque County residents have been tested, up 513 from yesterday, with a positive test rate of 5.3 percent. 317,400 Iowans have been tested, an increase of 7,767 since yesterday, for a positive test rate of 9.5 percent. One in nine Dubuque County residents have been tested and one in 10 Iowa residents have been tested.

Hospitalizations & Recoveries
As of today, 145 Iowans were hospitalized due to COVID-19, four fewer than yesterday.  The number of Dubuque County residents hospitalized is five, three more than reported yesterday. 

Statewide, 23,942 Iowans have recovered (up 409 from yesterday), including 388 Dubuque County residents (nine more than yesterday).

Long-Term Care Facility Outbreaks
According to the IDPH, as of 2 p.m. today there are 21 long-term care facilities in Iowa with COVID-19 outbreaks, one more than yesterday.  There is one long-term care facility outbreak in Dubuque County at Dubuque Specialty Care, which has 51 positive cases and 38 recovered cases (the same as yesterday). 

Statewide, IDPH is reporting 565 positive cases at long-term care facilities (17 more than reported yesterday), 421 recovered (five more than reported yesterday), and 381 deaths (one more than reported yesterday). The number of cases and recovered include both residents and staff. 

For the most current information on COVID-19, visit https://coronavirus.iowa.gov. For COVID-19 information specific to Dubuque County, visit www.dubuquecounty.org/COVID19 

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This message is from the Dubuque County Public Health Incident Management Team, which includes staff from the from the Dubuque County Health Department, City of Dubuque Health Department, Dubuque County Emergency Management Agency, and the Dubuque Visiting Nurse Association.
 
Please do not reply to this message.  If you would like additional information on this issue, please visit www.dubuquecounty.org/covid19