Webster County Public Health’s Latest Covid-19 Update

Webster County Public Health released their latest Covid-19 Update on Friday. The update is below.

146 Webster County residents were diagnosed with COVID-19 since our last update on Monday. This brings Webster County’s cumulative case total to 4,357. 204 local residents’ cases are currently open, have been contact traced, and individuals placed into isolation. Five more Webster County residents have died since Monday bringing the total COVID death count to 47. Webster County’s 14-day positivity, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health, is 18%.

“Five more residents of Webster County have died and 146 more diagnosed with COVID-19,” said Kelli Bloomquist, public information officer for Webster County Public Health. “We continue to plead with residents to not gather in groups, to wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands, and stay home when you’re sick or awaiting test results. Our local case numbers are not decreasing. Our healthcare, public health, and skilled nursing facilities are stressed. We need residents to take this public health emergency seriously.”

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 increase.

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]