Webster County Public Health’s Latest Covid-19 Update & Guidance From Monday Night

The Webster County Public Health Dept. released its latest Covid-19 update Monday Night. Below is the that update.

Twenty-nine new COVID-19 positive cases were diagnosed over the weekend, according to Webster County Public Health Department (WCPH). This brings Webster County’s cumulative case total to 4,240. 198 cases are currently open, have been contact traced, and individuals placed into isolation. Three more Webster County residents have died since Friday’s report bringing the total COVID death count to 42.

“I have seen a lot of social media posts from people believing that numbers are somehow trending downward and that COVID is getting better. But this just isn’t true,” said Kelli Bloomquist, Public Information Officer for Webster County Public Health. “Webster County – as is all of Iowa – remains at critical levels. Our healthcare, public health, and skilled nursing facilities are stressed. More people are getting very sick with COVID and we are entering the winter season of RSV, influenza, and more, and we will soon see the increased cases from Thanksgiving gatherings. We need people to wear a mask, to social distance, to wash hands, to limit gatherings, to only leave home when necessary, and to stay home when sick.”

WCPH, along with the CDC, asked residents to forgo Thanksgiving gatherings for virtual meet-ups instead with the hope of curbing future exposures. WCPH is now asking residents to also plan for virtual Christmas and New Year celebrations as COVID positive cases and exposures continue to rise.

If you did gather with a group of people from outside of your home for Thanksgiving, please self-monitor for COVID symptoms and contact your medical provider should you feel that testing is needed.

Due to the number of COVID cases and the need for testing, it may take time to get a testing appointment. Testing is available at multiple sites throughout Webster County including the following:

 

  • UnityPoint Health: If you have any questions, concerns or are experiencing COVID symptoms, call your primary care provider and UnityPoint Health staff will direct you to where you need to be in order to be seen.

  • Community Health Center: Call ahead for urgent, routine or COVID-19 rapid testing. Call 515-576-6500 to make an appointment.

  • Iowa Specialty Clinic: Call ahead for COVID-19 rapid testing. Patient must be symptomatic. Call 515-955-6767

  • Webster County Public Health: WCPH is not a testing site. WCPH analyzes and acts on the testing information provided by medical providers and then provides CDC guidance and contact tracing.

If an individual needs testing but does not have health insurance, please let the scheduler know when making your appointment.

If you are awaiting test results, it is imperative to self-quarantine until you know the results of your COVID test.


Webster County Public Health’s COVID Hotline remains available to residents with questions regarding COVID-19, quarantine and isolation guidance, exposures, etc. The hotline is available by telephone at 515-227-7153 or via email at [email protected]

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