×

Marshall County confirms 21 new COVID-19 cases

Marshall County recorded its highest number of COVID-19 cases on Wednesday with 21 new cases reported, for a total of 65 positive tests.

The numbers reported by the Iowa Department of Public Health on Thursday show 49 cases, but are not up-to-date.

The Marshall County Public Health staff is investigating each case and checking with their household contacts to see if any are also showing symptoms. It is important to track if there is any link among the positive cases. The investigation is ongoing and information is not yet complete.

“When cases of COVID-19 first began being reported in Iowa they were related to travel outside the state,” said Marshall County Public Health Director Pat Thompson. “Now, however, there is widespread community transmission. This means the virus is spreading from person-to-person, and often without known contact with a positive case.”

The largest increase for Marshall County does not come as a surprise to Thompson. She said compared to other Iowa counties, it is not big.

“I knew it was going to happen at some point and it was our time,” Thompson said. “We are testing more and getting more confirmed.”

She does not know if the reported confirmations will continue to be as high.

Iowa Code Chapter 22 prohibits the release of information that could lead to the identification of an individual or facility. Marshall County Public Health is following Iowa law by not releasing information such as the town where an individual lives.

The Marshall County Emergency Management Coordinator Kim Elder said that is why places of employment are not being released by government entities. The only times when the places of employment are being identified is when the company publicly releases that information.

Unfortunately, Elder said that also means rumors are spreading about some businesses.

“At this point, treat everyone like they are contagious,” she said. “Only the businesses can release that information.”

COVID-19 is circulating widely in the state and in Marshall County. A resident’s chance of being exposed to the virus is high, regardless of contact with a confirmed case.

All residents are advised to stay home as much as possible and when they must leave for essential errands like groceries or to get medication, they maintain a 6-foot distance from other individuals and avoid groups of people. This is because the risk of exposure to the virus is not limited to exposure to a known case. People can just as easily be exposed to an undiagnosed individual who is at the grocery store.

Regional Coordination

Gov. Kim Reynolds on Thursday signed a new proclamation for Regional Medical Coordination Centers (RMCC) Region 6, which includes the counties of Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Grundy, Howard, Jones, Linn and Winneshiek.

The proclamation orders residents in the region to stay home for everything but work and essential errands. It limits Region 6 social gatherings to only people who live together in the same household. Religious gatherings – such as for funerals and weddings – are still limited to 10 people. The proclamation requires people to remain 6 feet away from others outside of their household and also requires employers to increase teleworking and adopt precautions to protect employees.

Region 6 has a score of 10 on an Iowa Department of Public Health assessment scale which analyzes COVID-19 data. Reynolds said she would only consider issuing stay-at-home orders for regions which reach a 10 on the scale.

Marshall County is in Region 1, which has a score of 9 on the scale. Other counties in Region 1 are Adair, Appanoose, Boone, Carroll, Clark, Dallas, Davis, Decatur, Greene, Guthrie, Jasper, Lucas, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Polk, Poweshiek, Ringgold, Story, Tama, Union, Warren and Wayne.

In Region 1, there are 54 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Of those, 20 are in intensive care units and 15 are on ventilators.

With 21 cases confirmed in a 24-hour period, there is a possibility Region 1 will get a score of 10 on the same scale. If that happens, a similar gubernatorial proclamation might be issued.

What role law enforcement will play if a proclamation is made is something that will be determined by the individual agencies, Elder said.

Marshall County Sheriff Steve Hoffman said he can assure his deputies will not be stopping vehicles and inquiring about who is inside or where they are going for what reason.

“The constitution and freedom comes first and understanding that is our role in this public health emergency,” Hoffman said. “I am not minimizing the situation. This is about finding a reliable balance while respecting everyone’s rights and freedoms.”

Help prevent the spread

• Stay home as much as possible.

• Go alone on essential errands like getting groceries or prescriptions and maintain social distancing.

• Practice social distancing by staying 6 feet away from other individuals. Avoid groups of more than 10 people – five people in some communities like Marshalltown.

• Wear a CDC recommended cloth face covering when running essential errands to protect others in case you are infected with COVID-19 and have no symptoms, or have not yet developed symptoms.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today