AP PHOTO Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks during a news conference about an update on the state’s response to the new coronavirus outbreak Tuesday at the Statehouse in Des Moines

As worldwide concern of COVID-19, commonly referred to as the coronavirus, spreads Marshalltown residents are not panicking, but are staying informed.

“We survived the tornado,” Mayor Joel Greer said. “I expect that we’re as well suited as any city our size to handle something like this.”

Around Marshalltown people are concerned, but not paralyzed with fear.

“We don’t have any serious complaints, we just wash our hands a lot and be careful,” said John Olson, who was with family members at West End Perk. “You’re supposed to be washing your hands anyway.”

Around the country and Iowa, grocery stores are seeing toilet paper and disinfectants fly off the shelves. Except Marshalltown where most of its stores have fully stocked shelves.

“It’s not recommended to stock up,” Marshall County Public Health Nurse Pat Thompson said. “It’s just being logical about what you might need in the next couple of weeks.”

The IDPH does recommend people have all essential medications on hand, Thompson said.

“If you’re low on toilet paper, get some, but don’t get 10 packs,” she said.

Some Iowa universities and schools have moved classes online for at least the next two weeks to avoid possibly exposing students to the disease.

Marshalltown has an emergency preparedness team ready to go if the virus comes to the Marshall County.

At this time the IDPH is not recommending canceling events or other opportunities to congregate. Thompson said in areas with the “community spread” virus, which doesn’t have a known origin, such a recommendation would be put in place.

On Wednesday the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

Earlier this week Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency, activating the disaster response and recovery aspects of the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s Iowa Emergency Response Plan.

Her proclamation allows the state to start using resources to prevent, contain and mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 virus. At least 13 Iowans have tested positive for the virus.

The Times-Republican is hosting its annual Home & Garden Show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the MHS Roundhouse. Publisher Abigail Pelzer said she is closely following public health recommendations.

The show will go on, Pelzer said, unless new developments suggest a health risk. Should the Iowa Department of Public Health recommend canceling community events like the show, the newspaper will re-evaluate.

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Contact Thomas Nelson at 641-753-6611 or tnelson@timesrepublican.com