Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Take the COVID-19 Testing Test

Who should get tested for COVID-19?

If you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you may want to be tested. Local healthcare providers are testing people who have symptoms or have been exposed because those individuals may need additional care so you can contact your healthcare provider. Another option is the Test Iowa program (www.testiowa.com).

Keep in mind, if you’ve had an exposure to a positive COVID-19 case or someone with COVID-19 symptoms, you should quarantine for 14 days, regardless of your test result.

Who can get tested for COVID-19?

Any Iowan who wants to get tested, regardless of symptoms or exposure, can get tested for free through the Test Iowa program (www.testiowa.com).

Should everyone get tested for COVID-19?

Not everyone needs to get tested. If you are NOT experiencing symptoms, have NOT been exposed to someone who tested positive and you ARE practicing social distancing and following recommended hygiene and taking other precautions, you probably don't need to be tested.

Graph of Dubuque County COVID-19 Epi-Curve - March 15 - July 8

25 New Cases in Dubuque County, 397 New Cases and 8 Deaths in Iowa

Positive Cases
Between 2 p.m. yesterday and 2 p.m. today, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported 25 new positive cases of COVID-19 in Dubuque County, increasing the county total to 757. For the state, 397 additional cases were reported in that same time frame giving Iowa a total of 32,421 positive cases.

Deaths

No additional deaths were reported in Dubuque County so the county total remains at 22. Eight additional deaths were reported statewide, increasing the state death total to 733.

Testing
As of 2 p.m. today, the IDPH website reported that 13,056 Dubuque County residents have been tested, up 534 from yesterday, with an overall positive test rate of 5.8 percent. 345,614 Iowans have been tested, an increase of 5,679 since yesterday, for a positive test rate of 9.4 percent. One in seven Dubuque County residents have been tested and one in nine Iowa residents have been tested.

Hospitalizations & Recoveries
As of today, 165 Iowans were hospitalized due to COVID-19, the same as reported yesterday. The number of Dubuque County residents reported hospitalized is eight, three more than reported yesterday.

Statewide, 25,942 Iowans have recovered (up 396 from yesterday), including 435 Dubuque County residents (five more than yesterday).

Long-Term Care Facility Outbreaks
According to the IDPH, as of 2 p.m. today there are 18 long-term care facilities in Iowa with COVID-19 outbreaks, one more than yesterday. There are no long-term care facility outbreaks in Dubuque County.

Statewide, IDPH is reporting 401 positive cases at long-term care facilities (41 more than reported yesterday), 289 recovered (19 more than reported yesterday), and 387 deaths (three more than 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

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 remaning testing schedule for this week is:

Thursday, July 9: 5 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Friday, July 10: No Testing

If you go to this testing clinic, please abide by the posted traffic instructions and do not block driveways. If you are advised by traffic control or clinic staff that you will not be tested that day due to the length of the waiting line, please leave and come back another day or go to another Test Iowa site in another community.

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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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