Plymouth County Reports Second COVID-19 Death
(Le Mars) — A second death has been reported in Plymouth County as a result of the COVID-19 virus. Floyd Valley Healthcare officials confirmed the death was an elderly male above the age of 81. The death is one of 522 reported
from across the state. The elderly man was not a resident of any long-term care nursing facility. According to local health officials, there still has not had any reports of positive COVID-19 virus within the long-term nursing care facilities in Le Mars. Plymouth County has now reported a total of 127 positive cases with 88 recoveries.
City Offices To Re-open To The Public On June 1st
(Le Mars) — City offices will re-open beginning on June 1st. Le Mars City Administrator, Jason Vacura has announced Le Mars will again open its facilities to the public.
Vacura says city council will go back to holding regular meetings, however with some restrictions in place.
The first city council meeting to be held under the new requirements is scheduled for Tuesday, June 2nd. Vacura says some chairs will be removed to accommodate with the space distancing requirements. Vacura says our park’s facilities will now be open to the public beginning on Monday.
As for the public library is concerned, Library Services Director Shirley Taylor says they too, will open again on Monday, but with some restrictions.
The Le Mars library director says in addition to space requirements, the library staff will also implement time limits while using the library.
Often times people enjoy visiting the library to sit in a quiet atmosphere and read a book, magazine, or newspaper, just as a means to relief stress.
Taylor says when you make your reservation, they will ask what area within the library will you concentrate your visit?
The Le Mars Public Library has thousands of books and other reference materials, will the library staff be using a disinfectant when checking out a book or DVD?
The children’s area is popular among young readers, especially since it has many interactive and “hands-on” exhibits and displays. Taylor explains what the library staff will do with those items.
The library’s hours will be from 9:00 to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and between 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Floyd Valley Healthcare To Again Allow Visitors
(Le Mars, IA) Beginning on June 1, Floyd Valley Healthcare will be allowing limited visitors in the hospital, surgery center, emergency department and outpatients clinics during regular visitor hours. Visitor restrictions are still in place for patients diagnosed with COVID-19. There will continue to be no visitors at Park Place Estates Assisted Living to protect this very vulnerable population.
Adequate supply of protective equipment, including masks, is now available so that Floyd Valley Healthcare can begin allowing more visitors. One visitor will be allowed with a clinic or outpatient appointment. One visitor per patient per day will be allowed for the inpatient floor, with the visitor in OB being a birthing partner. In end-of-life care, the spouse and/or children will be allowed to visit.
Patients and visitors must wear masks within a Floyd Valley Healthcare facility, and will be screened for temperature and symptoms of COVID-19 before entering the building. For those wishing to visit an inpatient, you will need to enter the facility via the East Entrance. Patients and visitors are urged to wear a cloth face mask when arriving to Floyd Valley Healthcare. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided.
Patients and visitors alike are still asked to observe social distancing of at least 6 feet between people whenever possible, for example, at registration areas and in waiting rooms. It may be necessary for care providers to be closer than 6 feet in order to conduct examinations.
“We thank our patients and their families for their cooperation and patience during the time when we needed to restrict all visitors. We know this was difficult for everyone, but it was necessary in order to protect patients and staff while preserving valuable protective equipment,” said Dustin Wright, CEO.
“The health and safety of our patients and our employees continues to be our highest priority. We know visitation is very important in the healing and recovery process. Because COVID-19 is still present in our population, we are taking additional measures toward ensuring the safety of our facilities,” Wright added.
Customers, patients and visitors will see these extra measures of safety:
· Industrial-grade cleaning practices in all Floyd Valley Healthcare facilities.
· Spacing barriers at registration areas.
· Distance between waiting room chairs.
· Streamlined processes at registration to result in shorter visits to a facility.
· Face masks worn by staff and other protective equipment as needed.
· Hand sanitizer available in waiting rooms.
For the latest information on testing for COVID-19, please go to TestIowa.com. General information about Floyd Valley Healthcare services is available at Floyd Valley Healthcare.org.
$3.5 Million in Federal Funds Going to Iowa Food Banks, Feeding Programs
(Des Moines, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds says three-and-a-half million dollars of the state’s federal pandemic response money will be used to support food banks and other efforts to feed needy Iowans. Reynolds said, “COVID-19 has been one of those times when we’ve seen food insecurity skyrocket. More Iowans than ever have required food assistance.” One-million
dollars will be used to buy shelf-stable food like rice, oatmeal and pasta in bulk. AmeriCorps volunteers will break it down into consumer-sized packages.
Another million will go to directly to Iowa food banks to assist with the increased costs and challenges they’re facing with food acquisition during this time. A million dollars more will be used by Iowans who qualify for food stamps — for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets or grocery stores. Half a million dollars is set aside to support the slaughter and processing of donated pigs and cattle that would otherwise
be euthanized.
FBI Digging in Evansdale in Apparent Search For Arizona Man, Stepdaughter
(Evansdale, IA) — Authorities are digging in the Waterloo suburb of Evansdale apparently looking for evidence in the search for an Arizona man and his step-daughter, who are believed to have been murdered. F-B-I agents and officers dressed in white hazmat suits carrying shovels and digging equipment could be seen near a chicken coop on the undeveloped property Thursday. Police in Chino Valley, Arizona confirmed the digging was connected to the disappearance of 45-year-old David Batten and 28-year-old Elissa Landry. Landry’s boyfriend, 24-year-old Mitchell Mincks, formerly of Waterloo is a person of interest in the Arizona homicide case.
