Friday, July 3, 2020

COVID-19 Contact Tracing: Please Answer the Call

As more testing is completed in Dubuque County and elsewhere and more positive cases are confirmed, more people will be contacted about COVID-19 through contact tracing.  Contact tracing is being used to prevent and limit the spread of COVID-19. In general, contact tracing involves identifying people who have COVID-19 (cases) and notifying their contacts (people who may have been exposed) and working with them to limit the spread of the virus. For COVID-19, this includes asking cases to isolate and contacts to quarantine at home voluntarily.  The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is conducting contact tracing for cases in Dubuque County so please "answer the call" if you are contacted.

CLICK HERE or on on the image below for a full-size version of the graphic.

22 New Cases in Dubuque County, 297 New Cases and Three Deaths in Iowa

Positive Cases
Between 2 p.m. yesterday and 2 p.m. today, the IDPH reported 22 new positive cases of COVID-19 in Dubuque County, increasing the county total to 617.  For the state, 297 additional cases were reported in that same time frame giving Iowa a total of 30,429 positive cases. 

Deaths

No additional deaths were reported in Dubuque County so the county total remains at 22.  Three additional deaths were reported statewide, increasing the state death total to 720. 

Testing
As of 2 p.m. today, the IDPH website reported that 11,475 Dubuque County residents have been tested, up 350 from yesterday, with an overall positive test rate of 5.4 percent. 321,958 Iowans have been tested, an increase of 4,558 since yesterday, for a positive test rate of 9.5 percent. One in eight Dubuque County residents have been tested and one in 10 Iowa residents have been tested.

Hospitalizations & Recoveries
As of today, 146 Iowans were hospitalized due to COVID-19, one more than yesterday.  The number of Dubuque County residents hospitalized is five, the same as reported yesterday. 

Statewide, 24,329 Iowans have recovered (up 387 from yesterday), including 392 Dubuque County residents (four more than yesterday).

Long-Term Care Facility Outbreaks
According to the IDPH, as of 2 p.m. today there are 20 long-term care facilities in Iowa with COVID-19 outbreaks, one less than yesterday.  There is one long-term care facility outbreak in Dubuque County at Dubuque Specialty Care, which has 51 positive cases and 38 recovered cases (the same as yesterday). 

Statewide, IDPH is reporting 540 positive cases at long-term care facilities (15 fewer than reported yesterday), 407 recovered (14 fewer than reported yesterday), and 381 deaths (the same as reported yesterday). The number of cases and recovered include both residents and staff. 

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 

Dubuque Test Iowa Clinic Schedule for Next Week

The Test Iowa Clinic at Epic Health & Wellness at 1075 Cedar Cross Road in Dubuque will continue to offer testing for any Iowa resident until further notice. To avoid the hottest part of the day and minimize traffic congestion, the testing schedule for the week of July 6-9 is:

Monday, July 6: 5 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Tuesday, July 7:  5 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Wednesday, July 8:  5 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Thursday, July 9:  5 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Friday, July 10:  No Testing

Any Iowan who would like to be tested for COVID-19 at this location must first complete the Test Iowa assessment at www.testiowa.com. They will then be provided an identification number, which is required to be tested.  To take an assessment or request a test, visit www.testiowa.com. 

Residents without internet access or who need assistance completing the assessment should contact the Dubuque Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) for assistance at 563.556.6200.

Appointments are not being scheduled but you must complete the assessment and have an Iowa ID and your Test Iowa identification number in order to be tested.  There is no cost to individuals being tested and any Iowan who wants to be tested can be tested if they follow this procedure. A person does not need to be showing any symptoms. 

For more information, visit www.testiowa.com or call Test Iowa at 515-575-2131 or 844-844-1561 (toll free).

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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