COVID-19 UpdateCopyrighted
May 4, 2020
City of Dubuque Presentation(s) # 1.
ITEM TITLE: COVID-19 Update
SUMMARY: Dubuque City/ County Emergency Management
Coordinator Tom Berger will provide an update on COVI D-
19 preparation and response activities.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION:
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
TO: Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist
SUBJECT: COVID-19 update
DATE: May 4, 2020
CURRENT INFORMATION
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.
16 new cases were added to Dubuque County’s total today. As of May 4,
Dubuque Co has 152 + COVID-19 cases. 2 in the 0-17 age group, 49 in the 18-
40 age group, 61 in the 41-60 age group, (the largest group affected in Dubuque
co and in Iowa) 33 in the 61-80 age group and 7 that are over 80. This is 55
more cases than was reported to you on April 29, 2020. To date, we have a total
of 5 deaths in Dubuque county, 4 of which are in older adult category, aged 61-
80 years old. Currently, Dubuque county has 16 COVID-19 patients who are
hospitalized. Also, 1559 people have been tested in Dubuque co- with 1407
negative results. 9.7% of the cases tested have been positive. 25 people or
about 16% of Dubuque county positive cases have recovered to date.
The state added 534 positive cases today for a total of 9703. Last Wednesday,
th
on April 29, the state had 6843 positive cases. The majority of new cases
continue to be from the 22 counties where the Governor’s restrictions are still in
place. A total of 188 Iowans have died. In all there have been 57,161 tests
administered in Iowa. Currently, 389 cases are hospitalized. 3486 or (36%) of
Iowans have recovered.
Friday, Gov. Reynolds explained that we would be seeing larger numbers of
positive COVID-19 cases being reported over the weekend. This is a result of
the additional testing in the state through the testiowa initiative and strike teams
deployed to long term care facilities and work sites around the state. As the
testing numbers ramp up, the State Hygienic Lab is completing their testing
validation on the new methodology used for testiowa this weekend. This means
that test results will then become available at a faster, more timely rate than they
were this week. So as this process is completed and the data reported catch up
this weekend, we will see even higher positive results reported – this will most
likely also be true for Dubuque County numbers. The Dubuque County Public
Health Incident Management Team is currently planning for more testing locally
in Dubuque county.
Community Test site overview: Last week the Dubuque County Public Health
Incident Management Team requested a strike team for testing workers at all the
long term care facilities in Dubuque County through the Iowa Department of
Public Health and the Governor’s office. We, along with the city council and
board of supervisors, also requested a community test site utilizing the testiowa
initiative. Even though we have made multiple requests for a TestIowa site and
state strike team testing in Dubuque, the State of Iowa was unable to grant those
requests at this time. Local officials will continue to work with state officials to
pursue community testing for Dubuque County.
However, due to the data, epidemiological profile and contact tracing results here in
Dubuque County, the IDPH is providing test kits and some assistance to conduct
targeted COVID-19 testing this week for long-term care facilities and individuals
identified through contract tracing as having possible exposure to positive COVID-19
patients in Dubuque County. The testing will occur at the planned community test site,
which is the Grand River Center parking garage, with an additional site available if
necessary. Approximately 1,000 Dubuque County residents are expected to be tested
through this targeted testing program from Wednesday through Friday this week at
several locations. This targeted testing will include staff from long-term care facilities in
Dubuque County and Dubuque County residents already identified through contact
tracing related to confirmed COVID-19 cases. All testing will be virology testing. No
serology testing will be offered at this time. Individuals will be contacted by the Dubuque
Visiting Nurses Association and appointments will be scheduled for them to be
tested. Test kits will be provided by the IDPH and testing will be conducted by staff from
local healthcare providers. There will be no testing cost for residents. Dubuque County
will cover the staffing and location costs associated with the testing. The targeted
testing planned for this week will be conducted under the direction of the Iowa
Department of Public Health and is NOT open to the public. We would like to provide
more broad community testing at this time, but feel the targeted testing will provide
valuable results in helping to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. More
Dubuque County residents completing the testiowa assessment will demonstrate the
need to the need to the Governor’s office. Therefore, we encourage residents to
continue to take the on-line testiowa assessment.
Long Term Care status and planning: As stated earlier, all the long term care
facilities are offered testing for their staffs this week. Most are conducting the
testing at their facilities.
Housing needs, and special isolation needs, along with other human service
needs are being handled by the Human Resources section of our incident
management team, and are managed by Human Rights Director Kelley Larson
and Housing and Community Development Director, Alexis Steger. Temporary
housing is available for individuals not able to secure appropriate isolation in their
own residences. Food continues to be provides to a variety of individuals via
delivery and also through distribution by community based organizations.
PPE requests, donations, sourcing products – Tom Berger, EMA, assesses local
needs and uses local needs to meet those requests or puts requests into the
state EOC.
What you can do now
Continue to stay home as much as possible. Dubuque County has not yet
peaked in the number of COVID-19 cases.
Encourage citizens to take the testiowa assessment
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 and emphasize handwashing
Continue to seek and utilize factual information from the city of Dubuque, IDPH
and CDC websites and postings.