COVID-19 Update Copyrig hted
March 15, 2021
City of Dubuque Presentation(s) # 3.
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 COVI D-19 pandemic and response
activities.
SUGGESTED
DISPOSITION:
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TO: Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist
SUBJECT: COVID-19 City Council Work Session update
DATE: March 15, 2021
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Dubuque County Public Health Incident Management (IMT) 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. The IMT also consists of county Health Department Assistant Director,
Samantha Kloft and City of Dubuque Health Services Department Environmental
Sanitarians Tim Link and Sydney Moquin. 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. Randy
Gehl serves as the Public Information (PIO) officer for the IMT.
CURRENT INFORMATION
Current case counts and other related COVID -19 data can be found at
www.coronavirus.iowa.gov.
The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) announces the launch of
Vaccinate.Iowa.gov, a new website that provides information about vaccine priority
populations and eligibility, resources available for Iowans age 65 and older, and
answers to frequently asked questions about vaccine. The site also hosts a locator tool
where users can enter their zip code to find vaccine providers near them. Once a
provider is selected, appointment scheduling will be done through the provider’s website
or scheduling platform. Information on the site will be updated regularly and site content
can be translated into multiple languages.
Long Term Care facility status: Dubuque County currently has no long term care
facility (LTC) outbreaks! All LTC facilities have completed vaccination of residents and
staff. Vaccines will be available to new LTC staff and residents from LTC pharmacy
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
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providers. New guidelines have been issued to allow more flexibility for LTC visitation
with considerations for vaccinations, current cases and quarantines within the facilities.
Schools
The Public Health Incident Management team continues to provide guidance and
planning assistance with the county colleges and universities and the K-12 districts. The
IMT will be moving to monthly meetings with preK-12 schools. PreK-12 teachers and
staff vaccinations are substantially complete. The VNA continues to work closely with
the preK-12 schools on notification of positive cases and starting the contact tracing
process as soon as possible. Dubuque County K-12 schools have had 54 positive
cases since February 15, 2021.
The Dubuque County higher education institution representatives also meet bi-weekly
with the IMT. VNA provides similar contact tracing and assistance with the higher
education students as they do with preK-12. All higher education nurses, security and
health staff and students have been offered vaccinations as part of priority group 1a and
1b Tier 1. Higher education students, faculty and staff are not included in the current
Iowa Vaccine Shortage order as a priority for receiving vaccinations.
Dubuque VNA Continues to operate the public call center for Dubuque County 7
days/week. To date VNA has fielded 38,202 contacts calls/contact from the community,
an increase of 930 since the March 1, 2021 report.
VNA staff have administered 1430 vaccines at the POD in the last two weeks. VNA is
staffing the Dubuque County Sleeves Up phone line and tracking those individuals who
call in needing vaccine appointments. To date, 1953 individuals are on the waiting list,
which is an increase of 921 since the March 1, 2021 report. We are utilizing this list to
schedule individuals for vaccinations.
In addition, VNA continues to provide thermometers, food assistance and other human
needs referrals. VNA staff are contacting 2 facilities daily to assist with COVID-19
management and support.
Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Tom Berger reports they travel to
the regional node in Cedar Rapids to pick up requested PPE. Increased supplies were
delivered last week to local healthcare and other institutions needing PPE. The EMA
continues to provide logistical and operational support for the POD and ongoing
vaccination planning in conjunction with City Health Services staff.
Hospital Capacity Planning The IMT continue to monitor hospital hospital capacity
and capability and communicate with MercyOne and UnityPoint Finley Hospitals. This
includes closely monitoring new cases, outbreaks and other data points to assure that
hospitals continue to plan for surges while maintaining services for other non-COVID-19
patients.
As we continue to meet with hospital management and human resources staff, and plan
for an alternate care facility site, the hospitals’ census has remained manageable. The
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Incident Management Team will continue planning and meeting on the issue, but the
hospitals are not experiencing the level of urgency they were in November. The
Dubuque County Board of Health (BOH) executed a no cost agreement/contract for an
alternate care facility through March.
Public Information The IMT, in conjunction with the City Public Information (PIO)
Office, continues to provide daily COVID-19 updates along with social media posts and
fielding and responding to a variety of news media requests. Signage for the COVID-19
Vaccination POD was developed by City PIO staff. The Public Information Office
continues to disseminate vaccine information and updates, including advertising the
newly established Sleeves Up phone line in Dubuque county newspapers and on six
local radio stations targeting residents age 65 and over. Public Information Officer,
Randy Gehl, continues to coordinate and address all media inquiries and various
aspects of COVID 19 information for the public. Daily updates have evolved to focus on
the most relevant county data for this stage of the pandemic and now include 24-hour
changes in vaccination counts for Dubuque County residents. PIO staff will continue to
provide messaging that explains the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines and
addresses FAQs and misinformation and they will ramp up vaccination promotion as
supplies increase and more residents become eligible.
COVID- 19 Vaccination The IMT is receiving ever changing and evolving information
and vaccination planning tools from the IDPH. Thirteen local providers have received
vaccine allocations and administered vaccine and this will expand as vaccine supplies
increase. The IMT determines the allocations to the approved vaccine providers as we
receive weekly vaccine allocations. The IMT further prioritizes within the priority groups
on who the vaccine will be administered based on numerous factors. Some vaccine
providers receive limited doses through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program.
Crescent Community Health Center will be receiving doses through the federal Health
Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program in mid-April.
A community point of distribution (POD) for vaccine providers to administer vaccines is
up and running since Feb 10, 2021 at the Kennedy Mall former women’s Younkers
store. Unity Point Finley, Grand River Medical Group, VNA, Medical Associates and
Union Family Pharmacy have utilized the POD.
County residents age 65 and over continue to be contacted by their healthcare provider
when vaccines are available and vaccination appointments can be scheduled. Health
care providers have also started scheduling 16-64 year-olds who are at increased risk
of severe illness from COVID-19 due to specific medical conditions. Healthcare
providers are contacting their patients through a variety of channels including telephone,
text, email, and letter. Detailed information on how to schedule appointments will be
provided by each healthcare provider. Priority groups tied to worksites and within other
priority tiers will also receive vaccinations at the POD, or at a provider, depending on
the criteria. Individuals without a primary health care provider who are 65 years and
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older and those 16-64 years old with at risk conditions can leave their contact
information on the Dubuque County Sleeves Up phone line at 563 587 4950. They will
be contacted as vaccines supplies are available. HyVee and MercyOne Pharmacy are
receiving vaccine from the Federal Retail Pharmacy Partnership.
Phase 1b tiers 2 through 5 are now being scheduled. The IMT is partnering with the
Greater Dubuque Development Corporation who is leading an effort in conjunction with
the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce and the Dyersville Area Chamber of
Commerce to gather information from county employers in order to determine if their
employees will be eligible for vaccine in Phase 1b tier 2. The information collected will
also be used for Phase 1c, which includes other essential workers not identified in
phase 1b.
Looking ahead
• Continue Planning and scheduling for Phase 1b vaccinations
• The vulnerable populations IMT section is planning and implementing vaccine
access and education information to a variety of vulnerable populations.
• Plan for additional community vaccine distribution and administration sites and
methods in case they are needed
• City Public Information Office staff, in conjunction with the IMT and the joint
Information Center (JIC), will be providing messaging and community education
for vaccine education and administration along with a multi-media plan for
dissemination
• Insist on public health mitigation strategies continuing
• Implementing and distributing ever changing guidance from CDC, IDPH and
DOE.
• Monitor and provide community education on SARS CoV2 variants.
DUBUQUE
CITY COUNCIL
COVID-19 UPDATE
City Council update-March 15, 2021
Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist
INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM (IMT)
Mary Rose
Corrigan
City of Dubuque
Stacey Killian
VNA
Patrice Lambert
Dubuque County
Health Department
Tom Berger
Dubuque County
EMA
Randy Gehl City of Dubuque Public Information Officer
TRENDLINE OF NEW CASES
7
19
12
16
10
5
2
5
18
8
5
13
4 3
14-DAY TRENDLINE
SARS CO V 2 VARIANTS IN IOWA
286 SAMPLES
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1-Feb2-Feb3-Feb4-Feb5-Feb6-Feb7-Feb8-Feb9-Feb10-Feb11-Feb12-Feb13-Feb14-Feb15-Feb16-Feb17-Feb18-Feb19-Feb20-Feb21-Feb22-Feb23-Feb24-Feb25-Feb26-Feb27-Feb28-Feb1-Mar2-Mar3-Mar4-Mar5-Mar6-Mar7-Mar8-Mar9-Mar10-MarB117
B117
HOSPITALIZATIONS
14
5
COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS OF
DUBUQUE COUNTY RESIDENTS:
FEB. 13 -MAR. 13
WHEN WILL I GET MY VACCINE?
Phase 1b Groups Est Population
All Residents Age 65+throughout
Tiers 1-5
17,819
14019 complete
or 1 dose
Tier 1 Subgroups
First Responders 300
PK-12 Staff 2,385
Early/Childhood & Childcare 350+
Total 20,854
PHASE 1B -TIER 2
Phase 1b Groups Est Population
All Residents Age 65 and up 11,036
Need completion
Tier 2 Subgroups
Frontline essential food, AG &
manufacturing who live or work in non-
social distanced settings
4943 +/-
Individuals with disabilities living in home
settings dependent on attendant care staff
and their direct care staff
440
Total 5383
PHASE 1B -TIER 3-5
Phase 1b Groups Est Population
Tier 3
Congregate living settings
(including shelters)
562
261 remaining
Tier 4
Inspectors responsible for health, life and
safety, including those in hospital and
long-term care settings, child, and food
production safety.
82
Tier 5
Correctional facility staff and individuals
incarcerated, including state, county, and
city operated facilities.
32
+ incarcerated
Total 675+
●Cancer
●Chronic kidney disease
●COPD (chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease)
●Down Syndrome
●Heart conditions, such as heart
failure, coronary artery disease, or
cardiomyopathies
●Immunocompromised state
(weakened immune system) from
solid organ transplant
●Obesity/overweight (body mass
index [BMI] of 25 kg/m2 or higher
but < 40 kg/m2)
●Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
●Pregnancy
●Sickle cell disease
●Smoking
●Type 2 diabetes mellitus
TOTAL ???
16-64 YEAR OLDS /RISK CONDITIONS
VACCINATION PROGRESS
4,055
14,614
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
DUBUQUE COUNTY RESIDENTS
FULLY VACCINATED
Sleeves Up! Phone Line: 563-587-4950
Residents 65+, 16-64 years old with a risk for
serious COVID-19 illness (Without Primary
Healthcare Provider)
211
VACCINE SIGN UP
●Fully vaccinated individuals
●Long Term Care Visitation
●Travel recommendations (ongoing)
●Quarantine
NEW GUIDELINES
QUESTIONS?
City Council Meeting –March 15, 2021
Dubuque County Public Health
Incident Management Team