COVID-19 Update 7/6/20 Copyrig hted
J uly 6, 2020
City of Dubuque Presentation(s) # 1.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: COVID-19 Update
SUM MARY: Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist for the City of Dubuque,
will provide an update on the COVID-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: July 6, 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.
• 313 new cases were added to Dubuque County’s total since I last gave a report
to the City Council on June 15, 2020. As of July 6, 2020, Dubuque County has
700 positive COVID-19 cases. To date, we have a total of 22 deaths in Dubuque
County. Currently, Dubuque County has 6 COVID-19 patients who are
hospitalized. Just over 12,000 people have been tested in Dubuque County. 6%
of the cases tested have been positive, which has remained consistent for my
last several reports. 419 people or about 60% of Dubuque County positive cases
have recovered to date. Dubuque County has the 7th highest cases per 100,000
in counties with cities over 50,000 population and the 13th highest among all
counties. We are experiencing increased cases in the young adult population, as
is the rest of the state and the country.
• The State has 31,660 cases, up 7607 from 24,053 positive cases on June 15,
2020. About 9% of individuals tested statewide are positive. In addition to cases
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
continuing to be from meat processing, worksite and long- term care facilities the
community- wide spread has increased in the young adult population and in
those 0-17 years old. A total of 723 Iowans have died due to COVID-19 illness.
Over 335,000 tests have been administered in Iowa. The 18-40 year- old age
group has the most number of cases with 48%, (increased by 4% since June
15th) followed by the 41-60 year old group with 31%. Those who are >80 years
old have 47% of all Iowa COVID-19 deaths followed by the 61-80 year old group
with 41%. Overall, the number of deaths occurring in Iowa continues to decrease.
Currently, 151 cases are hospitalized. Over 25,000 or 80% of Iowans have
recovered. Keep in mind that hospitalizations and deaths have at least a 10 day
lag time from the date the case was reported/
• Community Testing: The TestIowa clinic began in Dubuque on June 29, 2020 at
Epic Health and Wellness on Cedar Cross Road. Although the Governor can
only release TestIowa numbers, Dubuque’s local site has operated beyond
capacity since it began. Since June 29, about 2000 tests have been
administered in Dubuque County. In addition to the TestIowa sites, clinics,
hospitals, and nursing homes are all testing more which all are included in the
2000 number tested.
The Public Health Incident Management Team will request viral test kits from the
IDPH for targeted testing, focusing on individuals identified through public health
contact tracing along with pockets of outbreaks etc.
Currently, of Iowa’s 99 counties, Dubuque County has the 3rd highest number of people
tested, among counties with cities over 50,000 population, (8th among all Iowa counties)
• 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. VNA makes an initial
contact with all positive cases to provide guidance and education. This was
especially valuable this past weekend when IDPH was not conducting contact
tracing.
• Long Term Care facility status: Dubuque County continues to experience one
long term care facility outbreak. VNA provides guidance daily to long term care
facilities experiencing positive cases. Facilities ca now request and receive test
kits directly from the State Hygienic Lab for their staff and residents.
• Several weeks ago, the majority of states were experiencing decreased cases,
including Iowa and Dubuque’s cases were leveling. Now more states are seeing
increased numbers of cases – including the state of Iowa and Dubuque County.
Our 14-day trend line continues upward and this is not solely due to having more
testing available. The positivity rate is relatively stable in Iowa and Dubuque
County. We are most likely seeing the effects of decreased restrictions
proclaimed by Governor Reynolds beginning in mid and late May. Another way
to look at these recent increases is through the Relative transmissibility factor
(Rt), or the number of cases one positive case causes. If the Rt number is above
1.0, the virus will spread quickly. An Rt number below 1.0 means the virus will
stop spreading. This Rt value corrects for increasing testing in it’s calculation.
Since May 30th, Iowa’s Rt has been 1.0 or greater in Iowa.
The“Rt” value is the effective reproduction rate of the coronavirus. Values over 1.0
mean more cases can be expected; values under 1.0 mean fewer cases can be
expected. See https://rt.live/
• 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. This should be finalized soon.
• 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 and I
continue Facebook video updates twice weekly.
• I am working with the Dubuque Community School District (DCSD) leadership on
their reopening plan. The schools face many challenges and are working on
several models for the fall.
Looking ahead
• Continue to work with county groups, organizations, schools, facilities, and
businesses on planning for events and openings and assisting with providing
guidance for when they have a case.
• Conduct food inspections and assist food establishments in meeting
recommended COVID-19 public health measurers.
• 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, especially in light of recent increases in testing.
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.
• Assist IDPH contact tracers by “answering the call.”
• Encourage citizens to take the TestIowa assessment. But remember, if a person
with an exposure to a positive COVID-19 individual, they must quarantine for 14
days from the last exposure to that person.
• 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.
Health Services Department
City Council July 6, 2020
Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist
Iowa Positive Case Trend Line
Iowa Deaths
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DUBUQUE COUNTY 14 DAY COVID-19
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