COVID-19 UpdateCopyrighted
April 6, 2020
City of Dubuque Presentation(s) # 2.
ITEM TITLE: COVID-19 Update
SUMMARY: City staff will provide an update on COVI D-19 pandemic
situation and response activities.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION:
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
All America City
20074,2012.2013
2017*2019
TO: Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist
SUBJECT: COVID-19 update
DATE: April 6, 2020
CURRENT 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 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. 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.
• Currently, there are 946 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Iowa in 75 counties.
25 cases are reported in Dubuque County including one death. Just two weeks
ago on March 24, I reported that Iowa had 124 cases and Dubuque County had 6
cases.
• Joint Information System is lead by PIO Randy Gehl - the JIS coordinated a
media conference on March 30, 2020 of Mercy, Finley, MA and GRMC to discuss
their preparedness and surge activities as requested by the Mayor and supported
by the BOS. In addition, the JIS has coordinated responses to requests from the
TH and other news media and provided daily COVID-19 specific media/news
releases. I am giving regular updates at every city council meeting, and on other
days, Facebook live updates
• Communicable disease nurses at VNA are conducting public health follow up for
COVID-19 diagnosed cases and their contacts. After interviewing and instructing
a positive case, VNA does a daily check with cases to review s/s, care, isolation
etc. VNA follows patients until they are fully cleared to leave isolation.
• We are preparing a community testing site. — goals etc
• The guidance from our incident management team and from the IDPH and CDC
will continue to change, based on new cases, the number of cases and the
ongoing epidemiological data and investigations in Iowa and the U.S.
• Governor Kim Reynolds signed a new proclamation continuing the State Public
Health Emergency Declaration and ordering additional closures. To encourage
further social distancing and mitigation efforts, the proclamation orders additional
closures effective at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7th until Thursday, April 30th:
o Malls
o Tobacco or vaping stores
o Toy, gaming, music, instrument, movie, or adult entertainment stores
o Social and fraternal clubs, including those at golf courses
o Bingo halls, bowling alleys, pool halls, arcades, and amusement parks
o Museums, libraries, aquariums, and zoos
o Race tracks and speedway.
o Roller or ice skating rinks and skate parks
o Outdoor or indoor playgrounds or children's play centers
o Campgrounds
• Factors the IDPH and Governor Reynolds to determine mitigation and closure
recommendations: (and keep in mind these factors may change)
➢ % of population 65 and older
➢ % of cases requiring hospitalization (not available locally)
➢ Rate of cases/100,000 population in the last 14 days (last incubation
period)
➢ # of outbreaks (ie in long term care centers etc)
➢ Experience and results of other states' mitigation and closure actions -
are these actions making a difference in flattening the curve/decreasing
cases
On a local level we currently have all of this information except local
hospitalizations.
• Housing issues and homeless isolation and other human service needs — City
staff of Kelly Larsen, Alexis Steger and Jerelyn O'Connor are coordinating
Housing and Human Service needs. -overview
• PPE requests, donations, sourcing products — Tom Berger, EMA, reports
Dubuque County has received 4 deliveries from IDPH/SNS and has in turn made
56 deliveries to local providers. He is requesting more PPE/supplies from the
state on a regular basis. Outside of obtaining supplies through the state, he has
ordered masks and face shields on his own through other procurement
options. (we have orders for N95s and face shields that should arrive sometime
next week). In response to the new CDC mask guidance for the public, The PH
IMT will release specific info on homemade masks and gowns when IDPH
finalizes guidance.
• Guidance for food establishments in Dubuque: Health Services Dept is
researching and preparing specific guidance for food establishments (mainly
grocery stores) on facilitating social distancing within their stores. Unfortunately,
not everyone is able to utilize curb side pick-up for their essentials. Based on
what we're hearing and seeing in the community, more guidance and specific tips
are needed for stores. Our goal is to distribute some information sometime this
week.
What you can do now
• Continue to stay home as much as possible
• We need to re-emphasize handwashing
• Limit trips to grocery stores and for other necessities — for example, once a week
at the most
• Utilize curbside pick-up, carryout and delivery
• Practice social distancing
• Strictly follow self -isolation practices. If you are not sure whether you've been
exposed, start self -isolating anyway.
• Follow the 3 C's
• Continue to seek and utilize factual information from the city of Dubuque, IDPH
and CDC websites and postings.