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COVID-19 not in Marshall County

Officials taking preventative measures

Marshall County Public Health Nurse Pat Thompson answers a question from a board member during Tuesday’s Marshall County Board of Health meeting.

Eight Iowans have tested positive for the coronavirus but none from Marshall County, Marshall County Public Health Nurse Pat Thompson said Tuesday.

Thompson made the report to the Marshall County Board of Health during its regular meeting.

Monitoring began Feb. 3 in accordance with recommendations from the President’s Task Force on coronavirus.

Thompson and board member Kim Elder of State Center who also serves as Marshall County Emergency Management (MCEM) Coordinator, reported they had been active checking reports from credible sources and updating the public on precautions to prevent the virus.

Thompson said if a Marshall County resident suspects they have the coronavirus to contact their health care provider immediately.

T-R PHOTOS BY MIKE DONAHEY Marshall County Board of Health board member and Marshall County Emergency Management Coordinator Kim Elder of State Center participates in discussion at Tuesday’s board of health meeting.

“Anyone’s health care provider can conduct the proper tests and determine a course of action,” Thompson said.

Symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath may occur two to 14 days after exposure, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.

Marshall County Supervisor Bill Patten asked Thompson if she and Elder would be able to call on others for help should the coronavirus become a problem in Marshall County.

“Yes,” Thompson said. “My office, MCEM and UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown are members of the 1-B Service Area Health Care Coalition,” she said.

Other members are hospitals, law enforcement, public health and EMS agencies from Boone, Poweshiek, Story and Tama counties.

The organization held a three-day drill Feb. 24-26 at the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office facility regarding the distribution of vaccines or antidotes in a simulated emergency situation.

Staff from many entities practiced, Thompson said.

While most COVID-19 cases are associated with travel to and from China, person-to-person coronavirus has spread throughout the United States, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and elsewhere.

The state Department of Public Health reported the three primary methods to prevent illness and its spread, including the COVID-19 were simple and easy:

• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow/upper arm.

• Clean hands frequently with soap and water; if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Contain the spread of germs by staying home when ill.

For up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit the IDPH website at idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus and follow the department on Facebook at IowaDepartmentOfPublicHealth and Twitter at @IAPublicHealth.

In other business:

• The board heard a report from Thompson on administering immunizations to a number of county residents. At one household Thompson administered 24 shots to one large family.

• Thompson spoke about her efforts publicizing the board’s mission of making Marshall County the healthiest county in Iowa. This included press releases to area media.

“I think it is important for Marshall County Public Health be visible and recognizable” Thompson said.

• Elder told the board the 2020 Storm Spotter Training will be 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. March 24 in Room 608 at Iowa Valley Continuing Education. Instruction will be provided the National Weather Service’s Des Moines-Johnston office.

The next regular Marshall County Board of Health meeting is 10 a.m. May 12 in the second floor conference room at Great Western Bank.

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Contact Mike Donahey at 641-753-6611 or mdonahey@timesrepublican.com

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