Tuesday, May 26, 2020

No New Cases or Deaths in Dubuque County, 145 More Cases and 19 Deaths in Iowa

Positive Cases
Since yesterday morning's update, the IDPH reported no additional positive cases of COVID-19 in Dubuque County, keeping the county total at 323 as of 2 p.m. today (Tuesday). For the state, 145 additional cases were reported since yesterday morning. Iowa now has a total of 17,702 positive cases.

Deaths
Nineteen additional deaths were reported for Iowa since yesterday morning, bringing the state total to 475. IDPH did not report any additional deaths for Dubuque County since yesterday's update so the county total remains 16.

Testing
As of this 2 p.m. today,135,280 Iowans have been tested, including 4,850 Dubuque County residents. Iowa has a positive test rate of 13.1 percent while Dubuque County is 6.7 percent. One in 20 Dubuque County residents have been tested and one in 23 Iowans have been tested.

Long-Term Care Facility Outbreaks
As of 2 p.m.. today, there are 37 long-term care facilities in Iowa with COVID-19 outbreaks (three or more positive cases among residents and staff). There is one long-term care facility outbreak in Dubuque County at Dubuque Specialty Care, which has 49 positive cases and 12 recovered cases (up two from yesterday). Statewide, there are 1,594 positive cases at long-term care facilities (up 43 from yesterday), with 687 recovered (up 24 from yesterday) and 251 deaths (up 11 from yesterday).

Hospitalizations & Recoveries
As of Monday, May 25, 379 Iowan's were hospitalized due to COVID-19, including 10 Dubuque County residents.Statewide, 9,628 Iowans have recovered (up 287 from yesterday), including 151 Dubuque County residents (up four from yesterday).

Serology/Anitbody Testing
Serology testing, or antibody testing, looks for the presence of antibodies, which are specific proteins made in response to infections. Antibodies are detected in the blood of people who are tested after infection; they show an immune response to the infection. Antibody test results are especially important for detecting previous infections in people who had few or no symptoms.

To date, 15,597 Iowans have been tested for COVID-19 antibodies with 1,787 testing positive for antibodies, or 11 percent. In Dubuque County, 797 county residents have been tested with 52 being positive, or seven percent.

For the most current information on COVID-19, visit https://coronavirus.iowa.gov. For COVID-19 information specific to Dubuque County, visit www.dubuquecounty.org/COVID19

Please continue to practice social distancing of at least six feet when you must interact with people outside your household. Wear a mask when you cannot social distance and wash your hands frequently.

Graph of COVID-19 Cases Per Capita in Iowa's Largest Counties

Iowa has nine counties containing cities with populations of 50,000 or more. This graph compares the COVID-19 cases per capita among those counties, as of May 26, 2020.

Governor Extends Disaster Proclamation, Modifies Restrictions

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a new proclamation today continuing the Public Health Disaster Emergency until June 25, 2020. As previously announced, the proclamation permits bars, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and social and fraternal clubs may reopen on May 28 with the same public health measures as restaurants in place.

The proclamation also permits the reopening on June 1 of additional establishments, including outdoor performance venues, casinos, bowling alleys, amusement parks, skating rinks, skate parks, outdoor playgrounds.

The proclamation again permits social, community, recreational, leisure, and sporting gatherings and events of more than 10 people if public health measures are implemented, including limiting attendance to 50 percent of the venue capacity and maintaining six feet of distance between those attending. This also allows practices, games, and competitions for youth and adult baseball, softball, and individual sports such as running, biking, swimming, tennis, and golf to resume with appropriate public health measures in place.

The governor again strongly encouraged all vulnerable Iowans, including those with preexisting medical conditions and those older than 65, in all counties of the state to continue to limit their activities outside of their home, including their visits to businesses and other establishments and their participation in gatherings of any size and any purpose. She also encouraged all Iowans to limit their in-person interactions with vulnerable Iowans and to exercise particular care and caution when engaging in any necessary interactions. Read the full proclamation at: https://governor.iowa.gov/press-release/gov-reynolds-signs-new-proclamation-continuing-the-state-public-health-emergency-4

May 26 Video Update

Today's video update from the Dubuque County Public Health Incident Management Team includes a review of the latest case counts and other statistics, a summary of Governor's new proclamation, clarification on COVID-19's surface transmissability, and an udpate on local testing. Watch the video at https://youtu.be/ux_MD2Q1_nA

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT:
Randy Gehl, Public Information Officer
rgehl@cityofdubuque.org

This message is from the Dubuque County Public Health Incident Management Team, which includes staff from the from the Dubuque County Health Department, City of Dubuque Health Department, Dubuque County Emergency Management Agency, and the Dubuque Visiting Nurse Association.

Please do not reply to this message. If you would like additional information on this issue, please visit www.dubuquecounty.org/covid19