Floyd County prepares for COVID-19

To The Press

Floyd County Public Health is advising residents about what they can do to prepare for the potential spread of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19.

Although some people in the state are being monitored, as of Sunday afternoon there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Iowa, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Since the start of this outbreak, Floyd County Public Health has worked closely with the Iowa Department of Public Health to monitor potential cases of COVID-19,” said Floyd County Public Health Director Gail Arjes.

“We have and will continue to work with our local, state and national partners to be ready in case the virus does come to Iowa,” she said.

There are things all Floyd County residents can do to help prevent the spread of all viruses, including influenza and COVID-19:

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper arm/elbow.
• Clean your hands frequently with soap and water.
• Contain germs by staying home when ill.

Residents should prepare for the potential of COVID-19 in the same way they prepare for severe weather or other events that could disrupt their normal routine, Arjes said. This includes making a plan and discussing it with your family.

For example she said, discuss what would you do if you could not go to work or school because of illness? What if your day care provider was ill? How would you get groceries if you were ill?

“These are all questions to consider,” she said.

Symptoms of the COVID-19 in people who have been exposed can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. The symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure.

As of last Friday, the Iowa Department of Public Health said 13 people in Iowa were being monitored for the COVID-19 virus, mostly because of their travel or because of their contact with people who had traveled to areas were the virus was known to exist.

None of the people being monitored were showing symptoms, the department said.

Three people had been tested for the virus, and all tested negative.

For information and updates related to COVID-19, visit idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus and follow the Iowa Department of Public Health on Facebook (@IowaDepartmentofPublicHealth) and Twitter (@IAPublicHealth)..