COVID-19 UpdateCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE
SUMMARY:
SUGGESTED
DISPOSITION:
Copyrighted
October 3, 2022
Presentation(s) # 2.
COVID-19 Update
Public Health Director Mary Rose Corrigan will provide an update on the
COVID-19 pandemic and response activities.
Dubuque
THE CITY OF
All -America City
DUB E le'
2007*2012.2013
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2017*2019
TO: Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Director
SUBJECT: COVID-19 City Council update
DATE: Oct 3, 2022
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) VNA (Stacey Killian)
and the Dubuque County Emergency Management Agency (Tom Berger), along with
both hospitals continue monitoring the pandemic and providing guidance. However,
members of the IMT and community healthcare partners continue to gradually resume
"pre -pandemic' activities. The IMT also consists of City of Dubuque Health Services
Department Environmental Sanitarians Tim Link and Sydney Moquin who are spending
much less time on the pandemic response. The Iowa Department of Public Health
(IDPH) provides information via Health Alerts and their website. Randy Gehl continues
to serve as the Public Information (PIO) officer for the IMT.
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Iowa Coronavirus dashboard with case counts and other related COVID -19 data can be
found at
https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus/COVID-1 9-Reporting
Case and Vaccination Data Via CDC:
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home
Vaccination scheduling and access information-
https://www.citvofdubuclue.org/2965/COVID-1 9-Vaccinations
and at https://vaccinefinder.org/
Dubuque VNA
VNA continues to operate the public call center for Dubuque County 7 days/week for
general COVID questions along with quarantine and isolation specifics. To date VNA
has fielded over 48,792 calls/contacts from the community and continues to administer
vaccines. Along with free vaccinations, VNA distributes home Testlowa COVID test kits
to anyone needing a test, free of charge.
Emergency Management Agency (EMA)
The state stockpile of PPE will be moving from Iowa Homeland Security and EMA to the
Department of Administrative Services (DAS) to maintain and rotate stock. We continue
to assist local healthcare facilities with requests as they need them. We continue to
maintain a 30 day, emergency supply in storage available for an emergency.
Hospital Capacity Planning
Although COVID-19 hospitalizations remain steady, the IMT meets bi-weekly with
hospitals to assess local capacity, capability and patient load. Local hospital data can
be accessed via the Health and Human Services Public Health Protect Website:
https://protect-public.hhs.gov/pages/hospital-utilization
The IMT will continue to monitor hospital capacity and capability and communicate
with MercyOne and UnityPoint Finley Hospitals as needed. Hospitals continue to be
very busy with a variety of conditions and illnesses. Few of the COVID-19 patients are
in the ICU.
Public Information
The City Public Information Office (PIO), in conjunction with the Incident Management
Team (IMT), continues to produce and distribute weekly County COVID updates with
important messages to residents as well as new data on new cases, hospitalizations,
deaths, and vaccinations. The PIO office responds to news media requests for
interviews and information and assists the IMT with general messaging/communication
needs. 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. In
addition to continued marketing of vaccinations, PIO staff are promoting booster doses
and clinics where they are available. We will be deploying targeted messaging and
information for children and teens vaccinations.
COVID- 19 Vaccination
The IMT continues to manage the IDPH vaccine allocations and distribution, primarily
through the VNA.
The uptake of bivalent formulations of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-
BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for use as a single booster dose has seen low uptake
compared with other booster rollouts . The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is
authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 18 years of age and older.
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single
booster dose in individuals 12 years of age and older.
• Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have both developed bivalent omicron -adapted
mRNA COVID-19 vaccines targeting BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants for
additional age indications.
New Pfizer Pediatric (5-11 years) COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccines are
anticipated to receive FDA EUA approval for additional age groups
• Moderna FDA EUA approval is anticipated which will allow the current EUA
approved bivalent booster vaccine to be administered to additional age groups
As of September 29, 2022, 58.1 % of Dubuque County 5 years and older is fully
vaccinated with at least one booster dose. The percentage of fully vaccinated citizens
increased by .2% since Sept 6, 2022 from 65.5% to 65.7%.
In addition to multiple vaccine providers in Dubuque County, Ongoing walk-in VNA
clinics at 660 Iowa St are available on:
Monday 3-6pm-WALK INS: 10/10, 10/17, 10/31 (2pm-4pm only)
Fridays 8-430pm-WALK INS: 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28
Testing
Local providers providing COVID-19 tests continue to have adequate test supplies and
availability. Testing providers report less demand for COVID-19 testing. In addition to
isolating when you have COVID symptoms, the Dubuque County Public Health Incident
Management Team encourages residents who are symptomatic for COVID-19, but test
negative with a rapid self -test, to follow-up that test with a Test Iowa PCR test.
Test Iowa test kits are free and available for pick-up at multiple locations in Dubuque
County, for a complete list, visit https://www.testiowa.com/en#find-a-pick-up-site
Currently, the average time for Test Iowa results (email confirmation) after being
received at the lab is 12-24 hours.
Federal test via mail: https://www.covidtests.gov/
Dubuque County in home testlowa pick-up sites include:
https://www.citVofdubugue.org/2940/Local-COVID-1 9-Testing-Options
Testing options are updated regularly and posted at
https://www.cityofdubugue.org/2940/Local-COVID-19-Testing-Options
The Variants, Cases and Transmission
Omicron and its sub -variants continue to account for 100% of the positive COVID tests
in Dubuque County during August. August variant picture consisted predominately of
BA.5.2.1. The CDC transmission rate was lowered from "high" to "moderate" for
the first time since early May 2021. However it is not an accurate indicator of the
spread since negative cases are not reported along with home, rapid tests etc. The
CDC transmission indicator is used by health care organizations and indicates the
presence and spread of SARS-CoV-2. Dubuque County moved from "medium"
community level category to Low last week.
After Action Report
The IMT has contracted with Emergency Preparedness Consulting (EPC) LLC, to
conduct the COVID-19 pandemic after action report (AAR). Dubuque County executed
a contract with the consultant, which will include a separate component to evaluate City
of Dubuque COVID -19 response operations, specifically public education regarding
COVID-19 and municipal service delivery, safe workplace guidance and employee
safety, and Departments Continuity of Operations Plans. The AAR is expected to be
completed in December, 2022. Community partners, health care organizations and
some appointed and elected officials will be surveyed and/or interviewed for their input.
Looking ahead
• Modify the IMT COVID-19 response based on the case transmission, CDC
Community Level and community needs and new vaccine availability.
• COVID-19 After Action Report: Begin with data gathering and planning for
community input in conjunction with Emergency Preparedness Consulting (EPC).
• Roll out Bivalent booster vaccines: Create and disseminate vaccinations
educational materials for parents and families of children 6 months though 4
years of age to disseminate via childcare providers.
• Provide ongoing education and access for COVID -19 testing, vaccination, and
other guidance to all populations, with the assistance of the Equity Immersion
Committee and many community partners.
• Continue community vaccine education and administration as eligibility and
availability changes.
• Implementing and distributing ever changing guidance from CDC, IDPH.
• 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 as
supplies and testing providers are available
• Monitor county transmission rates and community level status to provide up to
date information on masking and other mitigation strategies.
• Currently approximately 30% of my time is devoted to COVID-19
DUBUQUE CITY COUNCIL
COVI Dm 19 UPDATE
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LA
Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Director
Oct 3, 2022
■
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Positive Cases - Rolling 7 Day Volume Dubuque County
Mar 1, 2020 - Oct 2, 2022
1.5K
TI
500
0
Max 1,438
Avg 215.86
Min 0
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
2020 2021 2022
POWERED BY �• •
COVID-19 CASES & HOSPITALIZATION IDrnw,rn
NEW COVID-19 CASES IN DUBUQUE
COUNTY IN LAST 7 DAYS
122 120
DUBUQUE COUNTY
HOSPITALIZATIONS WITH COVID-19
91 13
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58 $ 6 $
2
8/31/2022 917/2022 9/14/2022 912112022 9/28/2022
8/31/2022 9/7/2022 9/14/2022 9/21 /2022 9/28/2022
D-19 Community Levels of All Counties in US
CDC COMMUNITY LEVEL
DUBUOUE CO: LOW
D-19 Community Levels in Iowa
Low � Medlum High No Data
"i Sep 30 2022 08:41:09 GMT-0500
Weekly Metrics Used to Determine the COVID-
19 Community Level
Case Rate per 100,000 population
New COVID-19 admissions per
100,000 population
% Staffed inpatient beds in use by
patients with confirmed COVID-19
Sept 27, 2022
W
7.1
3%
VACCINATIONS
% of fully vac >5 yrs
1 booster: Dubuque 58.1 %
0/6 of fully vaccinated population >_ 5 years of age with a first booster d(
� 0-29.9% — 30-39.9% • 40-49.9% • 50-69.9% • 70%+ * No Data
Fri Sep 30 2022 09:52:00 GMT-0500
Dubuque County
65.7 % total populations fully vaccinated
53.5% >65 w/ 2 boosters
43% >49 w/2 boosters
The COVID-19 Vaccine:
ANOTHER
*hMPORTAN�
00L TO STOP
THE PANDEMIC
a learn how you can get a COVID-19
vaccine to keep you and your family
safe.
One dose for those fully vaccinated
Targets BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants
Administered at least 2 months following primary or booster vaccination
• Pfizer for individuals 12 years of age and older
• Moderna for individuals 18 years of age and older
Can be administered with influenza vaccine
• Coming soon...
bivalent boosters for children 5-11 yrs (FDA approval early Oct)
National supply of Moderna and Pfizer Bivalent vaccines is robust
Initial allocations are limited
Appointments for Bivalent vaccine- check health care provider websites
NO priority groups
a
Dubuque County COVID-19 Vaccine Access
httDs://www.dubuguecountyiowa.gov/567/COVID-1 9-Vaccinations
Ongoing walk-in VNA clinics at 660 Iowa St
Mondays: 3-6 pm 10/10, 10/17, 10/31 (2pm-4pm only)
Fridays: 8-4:30 pm 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28
SleevesUp Phone Line: (563) 690-6253
VNA Phone Line: (563) 556-6200
• FAQ's for vaccination and children
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fag-children.htm I
• 0
Weekly COV I D-19 deaths compared vuith deaths from the flu
25,ODU
1
0 9 9.4
2019 121020 12021 12022
S OF
SEPT 1-7,
2022
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4
QUESTIONS?
Thank -you r;
V
Next update: Nov 7, 2022