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Third COVID-19 death seen in Floyd County

Third COVID-19 death seen in Floyd County
Daily positive COVID-19 cases and running 14-day average of new cases for Floyd County. (Iowa Department of Public Health)
By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

The third death associated with COVID-19 was reported in Floyd County on Wednesday, coming amid a recent upturn in positive test results in the area.

The Floyd County Department of Public Health said the person was a middle-age adult, age 41-60.

“We wish to extend our sympathy to this individual’s family,” said Floyd County Public Health Director Gail Arjes. “Floyd County Public Health and all of our key partners throughout the county and state continue to work to limit the spread and impact of this virus in our communities.”

The two previous COVID-19-related deaths in the county were reported on May 10 and on June 26, both elderly persons age 81 or older.

As the Press reported earlier this week, cases of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus have jumped in recent weeks, quadrupling the rate at which tests were coming back positive.

Fifty-five new positive Floyd County cases were reported in the last 16 days, an average of 3.4 new cases per day. Up until that period, the previous daily average had been 0.85 new cases per day since the first case was reported in the county on March 20.

This week there have been 12 new cases reported — three new cases Monday, one Tuesday, four Wednesday and four Thursday.

The total number of cases that have been reported in the county was 167 on Thursday, and of those 127 are listed as recovered.

Director Arjes said, “As we see the positive cases of COVID-19 rise in Floyd County and the surrounding area, Floyd County Public Health would like to remind residents of the following:

• Practice social distancing as much as possible
• Stay home when even mildly ill (the kind of illness that normally wouldn’t prevent you from your everyday activities)
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow/upper arm.
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

The Iowa Department of Public Health said that maintaining a 6-foot social distance from other individuals is one of the most important ways to slow the spread of COVID-19, but wearing cloth face coverings can also help prevent the spread.

“Recent studies have indicated that some people with coronavirus don’t have any symptoms, and that even those who later develop symptoms can pass the virus to others before showing symptoms,” the Iowa department said.

“Because of this new evidence, wearing cloth face coverings in public places where social distancing measures are difficult can be done to help further slow the spread of COVID-19,” it said.

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