Des Moines County COVID-19 positive added to state site

Update: Governor Kim Reynolds' daily press release listed the Des Moines County resident in the 18-40 age group.

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG
PCC EDITOR

LEE COUNTY - A positive COVID-19 was confirmed in Des Moines County on Wednesday morning, the first in the county since the outbreak began.

The positive confirmation was not included in Gov. Kim Reynold's office daily press release because, according to Christa Poggemiller, director at the Des Moines County Public Health Department, it missed the daily cutoff.

However, the positive as of 11:05 a.m Thursday, was still not listed on the Iowa Department of Public Health's website, where county-by-county listings are indicated to be updated throughout the day. It was however, posted on the site shortly afternoon on Thursday, 24 hours after it was released locally.

Despite a running update clock on the site, Poggemiller said it's her understanding that the site is only updated once a day.

"I know we were informed that we missed the governor's cutoff for her press release and the website.," she said. "But they informed us that we could go ahead and release the information, so we did because we want to be transparent through this process."

According the release received on Thursday from the Des Moines County Public Health Dept. the resident who was confirmed positive is in self-isolation at home. No additional information on the person was divulged including the age or whether any traveling had taken place prior to the confirmation.

"While this is Des Moines County's first case, it may not be the last, and that's why we encourage all residents to continue to make prevention a priority," Poggemiller said.

She said those actions include; washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow, and staying home when ill.

The release also said sick Iowans should stay home and self-isolate until there is no fever for at least 72 hours without the use of fever reducers and other symptoms have improved including the subsiding of coughing and shortness of breath, and at least seven days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

Anyone who thinks they need medical care is strongly encouraged to call first. Options could be available to talk to a medical provider from home using technologies available.

According to the IDPH updated site 179 confirmed cases have been reported in the state. 100 are women and 79 are men. The highest age grouping is middle aged adults from 41-60 who have just over 60 confirmed cases. The state hygenic lab has processed 2,757 tests with 2,578 coming back negative.