COVID-19 UpdateCopyrighted
June 15, 2020
City of Dubuque Presentation(s) # 1.
ITEM TITLE: COVID-19 Update
SUMMARY: Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist for the City
of Dubuque, will provide an update on the COVI D-19
pandemic and response activities.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION:
TO: Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist
SUBJECT: COVID-19 update
DATE: June 15, 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), the Governor’s
Office, and with guidance from CDC via weekly webinars and direct contact with
our regional epidemiologist.
• 20 new cases were added to Dubuque County’s total since I last gave a report to
the City Council on June 8, 2020. As of June 15, 2020, Dubuque County has
387 positive COVID-19 cases. To date, we have a total of 22 deaths in Dubuque
County. Currently, Dubuque County has 3 COVID-19 patients who are
hospitalized. Also, 6840 people have been tested in Dubuque County with 6452
negative results. 6% of the cases tested have been positive. 229 people or
about 59% of Dubuque County positive cases have recovered to date.
• The State has 24,053 cases, up 2066 from 21,987 positive cases on June 8,
2020. About 11% of individuals tested statewide are positive. Cases continue to
be from meat processing, worksite and long- term care facilities identified by
state strike team testing due to outbreaks. A total of 657 Iowans have died due
to COVID-19 illness. In all there have been 227,759 tests administered in Iowa.
The 18-40 year old age group has the most number of cases with 44%, followed
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
by the 41-60 year old group with 34%. Those who are >80 years old have 47% of
all Iowa COVID-19 deaths followed by the 61-80 year old group with 41%.
Currently, 197 cases are hospitalized. 14,662 or 60% of Iowans have recovered.
• Community Testing: Last week, the Board of Supervisors requested Interim
Board Executive Director, Ed Raber, follow up with the Governor’s office staff
regarding a TestIowa clinic in Dubuque. The TestIowa clinic model was
discussed with local healthcare providers with the Governor’s office last week.
The Governor is expected to announce the clinic site for Dubuque this week.
The Public Health Incident Management Team continues to request viral test kits
from the IDPH for targeted testing, focusing on individuals identified through
public health contact tracing along with the latest request focusing on childcare
staff and vulnerable populations. A total of 1078 individuals have been tested
via public health, primarily at the VNA. Those included testing for essential
workers and volunteers, high risk and vulnerable and at-risk populations. In
addition, 1670 individuals that were tested the first week in May, primarily long-
term care staff and contact tracing individuals. Additional long- term care testing
was completed at one facility for 254 staff and residents with assistance from
VNA.
Currently, of Iowa’s 99 counties, Dubuque County has the 4th highest number of people
tested, among counties with cities over 50,000 population, (9th among all Iowa
counties), the 7th highest number of positive cases /100,000 per capita rate among the
counties with populations over 50,000 and the 16th highest number of county cases in
the state.
• Contact tracing: since VNA has turned contact tracing over to the IDPH, VNA
staff has been able to provide strategic public health services specifically for
Dubuque County, including provide support to long term care facilities, worksites
and facilities with positive cases, and targeted testing.
• Long Term Care facility status: Dubuque County continues to experience one
long term care facility outbreak. Testing of staff occurred at another facility with a
positive staff member. VNA provides guidance to these sites daily. Long term
care facilities are considering the new CMS and IDPH phased guidelines for
resuming pre- COVID-19 operations. The phases have specific time frames for
no new cases and will take considerable time to work through.
• City staff continues to work with Dubuque County staff on an agreement for cost
sharing and management of the shelter in order to allow county residents to
utilize the housing isolation facility.
• PIO Randy Gehl continues to coordinate responses to COVID inquiries from the
media and provides daily COVID-19 specific media/news releases 7 days per
week and sometimes more frequently, depending on what is happening.
Looking ahead
• Continue to work with county groups, organizations, schools, facilities, (including
swimming pools) and businesses on planning for events and openings.
• Conduct food inspections and assist food establishments in meeting
recommended COVID-19 public health measurers.
• Public swimming pool inspections will begin by staff since pools will be opening
• Even though most restrictions have been lifted, the Governor’s proclamations still
require physical distancing for groups, events, retail and other businesses, along
with public health measures in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The
reason to continue all these measures is because the pandemic continues, both
in the US and around the world. In addition, research continues on vaccine
development, transmissibility of the virus, mask use, risk factors and many other
areas for which we are lacking definitive answers and information. So the
guidance from local, state and national experts may change as time goes on.
What you can do now
• Continue to stay home as much as possible and practice physical and social
distancing.
• 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, carry-out and delivery for food and other purchases
• Consider your own personal risk factors before venturing to retail stores and
places of business or for personal or recreational services. Risks to consider
include age, underlying and/or chronic health conditions – especially respiratory
and cardiac conditions, diabetes and if you smoke, are obese or live with
someone who has any of these risk factors.
• Strictly follow self-isolation practices. If you are not sure whether you have been
exposed, start self-isolating anyway.
• Follow the 3 C’s - (clean, cover, contain) and emphasize handwashing- which is
ideal. When handwashing is not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Encourage citizens to continue to seek and utilize factual information from the
city of Dubuque, IDPH and CDC websites and postings, being mindful that this is
an ever changing and emerging pandemic.
• Do research before traveling- so you are totally prepared for other communities’
risk, and potential illness.
• For community groups, plan ahead for events and cancellations.