COVID-19 update: Virus confirmed in two neighboring counties

GRUNDY COUNTY- Since the previous issue of The Grundy Register published a week ago, the novel coronavirus has been confirmed in residents of two neighboring counties.

Black Hawk County, the fifth most populous in the state, reported its first case in an individual over the age of 80 last week, and since this weekend, two more cases have been confirmed in the county. Additionally, there were three cases confirmed in Tama County over the weekend.

“We’re still just recommending everything that IDPH is recommending for social distancing,” Grundy County Public Health Director Katie Thornton-Lang said. “From what I’m hearing, people are really adhering to that.”

Social distancing is the practice of deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. Staying at least six feet away from other people lessens your chances of becoming infected with COVID-19. The changes in public behavior include residents giving a wide berth when passing one another and extended lines at check-out counters in stores and gas stations as customers attempt to keep a comfortable distance and avoid potential infection. The practice also includes safety precautions such as working from home if possible and avoiding large gatherings.

Currently, there are 124 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state of Iowa and one death, which has been reported as a 61-80 year old adult in Dubuque County. There have been 2,034 negative results around the state, a factor that has health authorities requesting community help. As approximately 80% of Iowans infected with COVID-19 will experience only a mild to moderate illness, the Department of Public Health recommends that anyone experiencing symptoms of sickness should stay inside and self isolate. Additionally, any Iowan that has traveled outside of the state, whether nationally or internationally within the last 14 days, should consider isolation to mitigate the spread of a potential infection.

Information about the virus is available via the 2-1-1 hotline, which is free and open to the public.