Part 1
(Le Mars) — People have had to deal with the COVID-19 coronavirus since mid-March, with several interruptions to our daily lives. Businesses, church services, organizations, events, meetings and seminars, and schools have all had to be closed or cancelled because of the virus. The number of positive cases of COVID-19 continues to climb, including Plymouth County. Tara
Geddes, Community Health Director for Plymouth County says as of Wednesday, May 6th, Plymouth County has reported 34 positive cases.
Some people have wondered if Governor Reynolds was a bit too quick in lifting many of the restrictions for 77 Iowa counties, including Plymouth County.
Geddes says since the governor’s order allowing for businesses to again be open, Plymouth County has witnessed a significant increase for the number of positive cases.
The community health official says Plymouth County probably has not yet seen our number of positive coronavirus numbers reach their peak.
Geddes says health officials are learning more about the virus each and every day. She says the symptoms associated with the COVID-19 virus have now expanded.
Part 2
Yesterday, (Wednesday) we learned that Plymouth County had 34 positive cases of the coronavirus. That number has now grown to 44 positive cases in Plymouth County as of Thursday, May 7th. More than 600 positive cases were reported in Iowa on Thursday by the Iowa Department of Public Health, with the number of individuals testing positive for COVID-19 now listed at 11,059. Nearly
66,500 people have tested negative for the virus. 4,266 people have made full recoveries from the virus, and unfortunately, the death toll from COVID-19 virus continues to rise, with the latest statistics from the Iowa Department of Public Health now reporting there have been 231 deaths across the state.
This time of year, due to high pollen counts, many people suffer the effects from allergies. It is also a time when spring colds may be common. But with the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, some people may be confused as to whether they simply have the symptoms of a cold or allergies, or if they are having the symptoms associated with the virus. Tara Geddes is the Community Health Director for Plymouth County and says it is understandable why people may feel confused and frighten.
Several meat processing facilities across the state, and within the region, have needed to shut down because of a high rate of infestation with workers contracting the COVID-19 virus. Geddes says her office has been in contact with several local food-based industries that have hundreds of employees to prevent any type of wide spread outbreak of the coronavirus, as seen at several major meat processing plants.
Since the virus spreads quickly, many people wonder if there is anything that can actually kill the virus.
(photo contributed.)
The Center for Disease Control and other public health officials suggest wearing a mask to help prevent the spread of the virus. Geddes explains why wearing a mask is so important.
The community health director reminds people that are most susceptible to contracting the virus to limit your travels to essential trips, and to stay at home as much as possible.
