COVID-19 update: Only three new cases in Grundy County this week

GRUNDY COUNTY- As the latest issue of The Grundy Register goes to press, only three new cases of COVID-19 has been confirmed in the county, according to public health officials, bringing the total number to 20.

Even as surrounding counties continue to report some of the highest numbers in the state (and Grundy County has at least partially reopened most businesses), the curve appears to be flattening locally, which Grundy County Public Health (GCPH) Program Coordinator Katie Thornton-Lang says has been a team effort as businesses begin to reopen.

“A lot of businesses are slowly opening if not at all, and they’re just taking extra steps within the physical space to make sure it’s cleaned up and ready to go,” she said. “People are sharing information, and we get bombarded with it sometimes. But it’s better to have too much information than not enough.”

Thornton-Lang added that all employees at Richelieu Foods now have Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and long-term care facilities are also keeping residents and staff members up to date on PPE. Currently, bars, movie theaters, hair salons and playgrounds in the county are still closed, and businesses like fitness centers and restaurants are beginning to partially reopen.

“They’re keeping in touch with us to let us know what’s going on and keeping those communication lines open,” Thornton-Lang said.

Grundy County’s rate of infection is 122 per 100,000 residents, which is still one of the higher rates in Iowa due to the low population here. According to the state data, 259 Grundy County residents have been tested for COVID-19, and the positive test rate is 5.8 percent.

In Grundy County, six of the cases are considered active, and 12 of the patients are considered recovered and released from isolation. None of the Grundy County cases are currently hospitalized.