COVID-19 UpdateCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE
SUMMARY:
SUGGESTED
DISPOSITION:
Copyrighted
September 7, 2021
Presentation(s) # 1.
COVID-19 Update
Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist for the City of Dubuque,
will provide an update on the COVI D-19 pandemic and response
activities.
Dubuque
THE CITY OF
All-Americe City
MI N Nnl. CT-7C: I1-i4-llE.
DUB E
2007*2012*2013
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2017*2019
TO: Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist
SUBJECT: COVID-19 City Council update
DATE: Sept 7, 2021
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Health Services Department
City Hall Annex
1300 Main Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
Office (563) 589-4181
Fax (563) 589-4299
TTY (563) 589-4193
health@cityofdubuque.org
www.cityofdubuque.org
The Dubuque County Public Health Incident Management (IMT) team consisting of City
of Dubuque Health Services Department (Mary Rose Corrigan) Dubuque County Health
Department, (Patrice Lambert) VNA (Stacey Killian) and the Dubuque County
Emergency Management Agency (Tom Berger), along with both hospitals continue in
full activation. The IMT also consists of county Health Department Assistant Director,
Samantha Kloft and City of Dubuque Health Services Department Environmental
Sanitarians Tim Link and Sydney Moquin. We are coordinating our response efforts in
conjunction with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), and with guidance from
CDC via weekly webinars and direct contact with our regional
epidemiologist. Randy Gehl serves as the Public Information (PIO) officer for the
IMT. Another section of the IMT is vulnerable populations, led by Kelly Larson, Human
Rights Director. The vulnerable populations section is assisted by the Equity Immersion
Committee and many community partners.
CURRENT INFORMATION
Current case counts and other related COVID -19 data can be found
at www.coronavirus.iowa.gov. which will be sharing data more frequently via social
media on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Other key changes include:
• The full site will continue to update weekly.
• The Hospitalization and RMCC pages are combined into one Hospital Data page.
• A map on the Vaccine Page will show the vaccination numbers from CDC as well
as Iowa data.
• A link to an Monoclonal antibodies treatment finder on the homepage to
encourage Iowans with COVID-19 to seek this treatment in their communities.
Via CDC:
httDS://covid. cdc.aov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home
Vaccination scheduling and access information can be found at
https://www.cityofdubugue.org/2965/COVID-19-Vaccinations and
Vaccinate.lowa.gov, and at https://vaccinefinder.org/
Community State Profile Report
https://healthdata.gov/browse?sortBv=alpha&taqs=covid-19-
spr&utf8=%E2%9C%93&page=2
County Vaccination data:
https:Hcovid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view
Dubuque VNA
VNA continues to operate the public call center for Dubuque County 7 days/week for
general COVID questions. To date VNA has fielded over 43,828 calls/contacts from the
community. Effective August 13, 2021, VNA resumed contact tracing for COVID 19
positive clusters and outbreaks, along with schools. However, contacts are only made
to the positive case and for their household members. VNA distributes home Testlowa
COVID test kits to anyone needing a test, free of charge. VNA has currently given out
153 test kits.
VNA is giving out healthy snacks at all COVID-19 evening clinics on Mondays at their
location on Iowa St and $10 Kwik Stop gas card at all clinic sites to any individual
receiving vaccinations. VNA also continues vaccination at outreach sites and events.
Emergency Management Agency (EMA)
PPE supply chains have caught up and PPE is readily available through normal
vendors. The demobilizing our PPE distribution and the closing of the Nodes is now on
hold due to the uptick in cases. The state has gone through five tiers of distribution, but
now are placing everything on hold to keep it available if needed.
Hospital Capacity Planning
The IMT continues to monitor hospital capacity and capability and communicate
with MercyOne and UnityPoint Finley Hospitals weekly. This includes monitoring new
cases, outbreaks, and other data points to assure that hospitals continue to plan for
surges while maintaining services for other non-COVID-19 patients. Hospital census for
COVID-19 patients have increased significantly in the last month. However, both
hospitals continue to have capacity to care for COVID and other ill patients. The
majority of Dubuque County hospitalized COVID-19 patients are not vaccinated.
Public Information The City Public Information Office (PIO), in conjunction with the
Incident Management Team (IMT), continues to provide weekly COVID-19 updates and
frequent social media posts, responds to frequent news media requests for interviews
and information, and assist with general messaging/communication needs. Posters
were designed and printed to promote vaccination and testing
opportunities/locations. Four hundred posters were distributed by the City's Health
Services staff and the County's Health Department staff. The PIO continues to track
multiple metrics for the IMT and update the COVID-19 webpage on the City
website. Videos featuring Public Health Specialist Mary Rose Corrigan are produced
when needed and distributed through all available channels.
COVID- 19 Vaccination
The IMT manages the IDPH vaccine allocations along with partnering with local
pharmacies are who are receiving vaccine through the Federal Retail Pharmacy
Program. The IMT requested and received additional vaccine for providers to
accommodate the immunocompromised third dose recommendation, which providers
are administrating.
The IMT continues to seek and plan for outreach vaccination opportunities and will
facilitate, develop, and plan smaller community -based, outreach vaccination clinics. In
addition, the IMT is making plans for administration of the booster (3rd) dose to all those
fully vaccinated. Some providers will need a Point of Distribution (POD) space. The
third booster dose must still go through the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practice (ACIP) and FDA approval, which will take until at least September 20, 2021.
To facilitate access to vaccination appointments, the Dubuque County Sleeves Up
phone line at (563)587-4950 continues, now staffed by the City Manager's Office. Call
takers facilitate vaccine clinic locations, appointment making and internet navigation
though inbound and outbound calls to connect people to vaccines.
Additional planning is now underway for administration of booster doses to those who
are fully vaccinated. Some health care providers have indicated the need for a
community point of distribution (POD.) Therefore, the IMT is reviewing sites and
planning for roll out once the booster (3rd dose) is approved. For final approval, FDA
conducts an independent evaluation and determination of the safety and effectiveness
of a third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines and CDC's Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) issues booster dose recommendations
based on a thorough review of the evidence.
Testing for COVID-19
The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and State Hygienic Lab (SHL) now
provide at-home test kits free of charge to Iowa residents through a mail order system
or via pick-up locations at healthcare and public health sites in communities.
Information about where to obtain these free in- home test kits can be found at:
httDS://www.testiowa.com/en
Dubuque County in home test pick-up sites include:
https://www.cityofdubugue.org/2940/Local-COVID-19-Testing-Options
Dubuque County Health Department, Dubuque VNA, Crescent Community Health
Center, Medical Associates Clinics, Epic Health and Wellness, Grand River Medical
Center.
Free In -Person Standard PCR Testing is available at Hartig Drug Stores and the Dodge
Street Hy-Vee Pharmacy.
As the need for COVID testing increases and the number of new COVID cases
continues to increase in Dubuque County and surrounding counties, the Dubuque
County Public Health Incident Management Team and local health care providers are
asking residents to NOT visit hospital emergency departments for non -symptomatic
COVID testing or for mild illnesses.
Emergency department visits should be limited to health emergencies. Rapid testing
conducted in emergency departments is reserved for symptomatic patients seeking
emergency care and for pre -operation and pre -admittance testing. Rapid testing
supplies are on limited allocation to all providers and some are also conserving PCR
tests due to supply issues.
The IMT recommends testing for documentation of being COVID negative for travel,
school, work, or attending events should utilize regular (non -rapid) testing from
pharmacies, or Testlowa take-home kits. Those that are exposed with no or mild
symptoms should seek testing via pharmacies and Testlowa, or healthcare providers(if
symptomatic.)
The Variants
SARs COV2 variants continue to emerge with the Delta variant continuing as the
dominant strain in the United States with 97.2% of the positive cases in Dubuque
County. All vaccines used in the US continue to be effective against the Delta variant.
With community spread continuing, and vaccinated individuals experiencing break
through infections, ongoing public health mitigation strategies are important and
necessary. Continued spread will allow time for further mutation of the virus and
additional variants developing.
Looking ahead
• Provide ongoing education and access for appropriate COVID -19 testing and
vaccination to all populations, with the assistance of the Equity Immersion
Committee and many community partners.
• Plan and execute non-traditional and targeted community vaccine
distribution and administration sites to reach of variety of populations and assure
adequate vaccine access, especially for administering the booster doses.
• Continue community vaccine education and administration as eligibility and
availability changes, utilizing multi -media and community outreach, with a focus
on school age, immunocompromised and those ready for a booster dose.
• Implementing and distributing ever changing guidance from CDC, IDPH and the
Governor's Office.
• Monitor and provide community education on SARS CoV2 variants.
• Provide COVID-19 guidance for special events and activities
• Continue assurance of COVID 19 testing access and in -home kit distribution.
• Monitor county transmission rates to provide up to date information on masking
and other mitigation strategies.
0
DUBUQUE CITY COUNCIL
COVI Dm 19 UPDATE
Mary Rose Corrigan,
Sept 7, 2021
4JI04
Public Health Specialist
•
40
•
•
0
Resumed Community Testing meeting/updates
Resumed Hospital weekly preparedness meetings
Working with schools and higher education
VNA resumes contact tracing
Additional vaccination planning
N
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a
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5.000
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CO 4,000
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u
3,000
,000
0
1,000
N
IOWA
a ff I I m a 1:163 9 110 kol: 1901 N 2 1101 A [03 pill PA4 I
Daily OVID-19 Cases (7-day average) Daily OVID-1 Cases
COVI Dm 19 CASE` July vs August
85+ (Elderly)
80-84 (Elderly)
75-79 (Older Adult)
70-74 (Older Adult)
65-69 (Older Adult)
60-64 (Older Adult)
55-59 (Middle Age)
50-54 (Middle Age)
45-49 (Middle Age)
40-44 (Middle Age)
35-39 (Adult)
30-34 (Adult)
25-29 (Adult)
19-24 (Adult)
15-18 (Young Adult)
11-14 (Child)
0-10 (Child)
■ August Cases
July Cases
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Increasaing O1IID-19 hospitalizations among U.S. children and
adolescents since the rise of the Delta variant*
HOOP i taI' Zation s arr ong
ages 0-4
10xincrease
Hospital i zatio n s among
unvaccinated ad oloGeentG
10x higher
ti r
than fully vac -mated
Lkuaut- ne
*I dr:Ji11001,110is Irm14 [oilt
States with lover
levels of vaccination
fr
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:J
utaiizations
amvns�
qcnts
increased
4)
Protect kids by ge##in-9 vac,cin dated
Compared 41f1th states with.
high levekls of vaccination
blt.Iy/MMR9321 &Vol"
Total Positive COVID-19 Tests vs. Total COVID-19 Vaccinations by Age Group in Dubuque
County (9/1 /2021)
111
14,000
12,000
a
4,242
4,
2,000 1,674
1,358
0
<16
8,152
4,164
12,958
:;000001
30-49
Age Group
■ Total Positive Tests ■ Total Completed Vaccinations
3,286
MY-1:1
14,002
2,511
65+
16,142
All Variants by Month (Dubuque County)
Jan 1, 2021 - Aug 30, 2021, by Month
Dataset last updated: September 07, 2021 97% Delta
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
2021-Mar 2021-Apr 2021-May
2021Jun
2021-Jul
2021-Aug
NOTE: AYA - AY.12 are
sublineages of B.1.617.2
■ AY.3
B.1.1.7
■ B.1.61 7.2
■ P.1
■ Other
POWERED `'' -
COVID -19 Testing Aug 6-Sept 6, 2021
Mar 10, 2020 - Sep 7, 2021, by Day
Total: 6,759 1 Negative: 6,154 1 Positive: 602 1 Inconclusive: 3
600 —
400
200
Aug 2021 Sep 2021
■ Total Individuals Positive ■ Total Individuals Negative ■ Total Individuals Inconclusive
POWERED
ISOLATION
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html
If you have been infected with the virus, even if you don't have
symptoms, you have to isolate. You can discontinue isolation
10 10
days
since
symptoms
first appeared
and
19 24
hours with
no fever without the use
of fever -reducing
medications and
Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving*
*Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery
and need not delay the end of isolation
Do NOT need to quarantine
after contact with someone who
had COVID-19 unless they
have symptoms.
Should get tested 3-5 days after
their exposure, (even if they
don't have symptoms) and wear
a mask indoors in public for 14
days following exposure or until
their test result is negative.
Stay home for 10 days after your
last contact with a positive
person OR
Until after day 7 after receiving a
negative test result (test must
occur on day 5 or later following
exposure)
J
Time Period: Tue Aug 10 201 - Mon Aug 16 201
on
'JF1
Date 913(2021
SD
NE
K5
010 ■ J :i•
Community Transmission Level by County
08i2712021-09102121)21
MN
MID
WI
IL
Community
Transmission
Level
High
Substantial
Moderate
Low
No Data
COMMUNITY PROFILE REPORTAUG 16, 2021
Time Period: Tue Aug 10 2021 - Mon Aug 16 2021
127 cases /100,000 (IDPH)
5.4% 7 day ave positivity (IDPH)
• HIGH TRANSMISSION
VNA conducts contact tracing
for household members and
outbreaks.
Hospitalizations increasing
15
0
{am m unity
spread
I
He-alth 5y5t fl
ca parity
t r r 4 I t
Y
Vacci r atic rl Ea dy � etection of Pop Iation$
(Overa ge COV I D-19 i n crew ses at risk
■ m I * f
f ■
■
i �
AL
•IIVI I big K:A :IeI•
Die
•
COVI D-'19 vaccines continue to show strong
protection against hospitalization
Vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization...
Get vaccinated. `New York State, May -July 2021
Protect yourself against COVID-7 9 hospitalization.
bit.iyjiink
BOOSTER DOSE
Begin late September
8 months following second dose
COVI D-19 vaccines and other vaccines may now be administered without
regard to timing.
Offer vaccination regardless of history of symptomatic or asymptomatic SARS-
CoV-2 infection
IDPH planning for administration of booster doses
LTC- no federal vaccine administration program
No priority groups
VNA CLINICS
@ VNA
Mondays 4-7 pm -WALK INS: 9/13, 10/4, 10/25
Fridays 8-430 pm -WALK INS: 9/3, 9/10, 9/17, 9/24
Sept 16, NICC Peosta Wellness Fair: 11:30 am- 1pm
People Vaccinated At Least One Dose Fully Vaccinated
Total 57,847 54,445
% of Total Population 59.4% 55.9%
Population > 12 Years of Age 57,846 54,445
% of Population >_ 12 Years of Age 70% 65.9%
Population >_ 18 Years of Age 54,486 51,631
% of Population >_ 18 Years of Age 72.5% 68.7%
Population > 65 Years of Age 17,297 16,825
% of Population > 65 Years of Age 97.1 % 94.4%
0
0
QUESTIONS
MARL( ROSE CORRIGAk
46 PUBLIC HEALTH SPN
7
Next update: October 4, 2021
r
elash, 6 vm4m
•
•
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