Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021

242 New Positive Individuals and 1 Death Since Sept. 8

Surge Continues in Dubuque County

Even though over 55% of Dubuque County residents are vaccinated, new case numbers continue to increase well above the CDC's "high community transmission" threshold rate of 100/100,000 population in the last seven days.  Immunocompromised and unvaccinated individuals, along with children under 12 who are not eligible to be vaccinated, comprise approximately 43% of Dubuque county’s population and continue to be at highest risk.

Demand for Tests

The demand for COVID-19 tests continues to increase in Dubuque County with some providers no longer offering rapid tests due to supply or staffing issues and some providers reporting inventory issues with over-the-counter purchased tests. Test Iowa take-home test kits are still available from local distributors.  Please utilize testing services or take-home test kits available from local providers, pharmacies, and public health.  For details, visit www.dubuquecountyiowa.gov/565/Local-COVID-19-Testing-Options 

Residents are urged to NOT visit emergency departments/rooms for testing or mild COVID symptoms. 

Planning Under Way for Boosters

As we await final FDA and ACIP approval for the third booster dose of COVID-19 vaccinations, the Dubuque County Public Health Incident Management Team is working with vaccine providers and doctors offices to develop plans for the administration of booster doses.  There is no need to contact your doctor at this time to schedule a booster shot. Please stay tuned for additional information as plans for community and healthcare provider vaccine sites and opportunities are finalized.

Protect Yourself, Your Family, and Your Community

There are a number of things Iowans can do to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 and prevent spreading the virus in their communities:

• Get vaccinated
• Wear a mask in public indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status
• Social distance in public settings
• Stay home if you are sick
• Get tested for COVID if you have symptoms or were exposed

DUBUQUE COUNTY CHANGES & TOTALS  

(Sept. 8 to Sept. 15) 

POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS 

https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/pages/case-counts

• 242 new positive individuals since Sept. 8
• Total positive individuals to date = 14,547

ACTIVE CASES

• 667 active cases in Dubuque County. (126 more than Sept. 8)

COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION RATE

https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view

• The CDC continues to rate Dubuque County at the HIGH level of community transmission of COVID-19.
  
  
• 7-Day New Case Rate per 100K Population through Sept. 12 = 149
  
  
• Percent Positivity (last 7 days) through Sept. 11 = 9.39% (+1.2% change in last 7 days)

HOSPITALIZATIONS 

https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/pages/rmcc-data

• The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has not updated its hospitalization data for individual counties since Sept. 8.
  
  
• Dubuque County Residents Hospitalized = 21 as of Sept. 8. (6 more than Sept. 1)
  
  
• Statewide hospitalizations are also increasing with the 78.3% of those currently hospitalized due to COVID and 87.3% of those in ICU due to COVID being unvaccinated individuals. Details at https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/pages/hospital-data

DEATHS   

https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/pages/outcome-analysis-deaths

• 1 new death.
• Total deaths related to COVID to date = 218 
• Underlying Cause Deaths = 197, Contributing Factor Deaths = 21

For information on local COVID-19 testing options, visit www.dubuquecounty.org/COVID19

Please do not reply to this message.  If you have questions, please call 563.556.6200.