IDPH Adjusts Quarantine Recommendations; 29 New Cases in Dubuque County, 591 New Cases and 7 Deaths Statewide
IDPH Adjusts Quarantine Recommendations
The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is making a change on quarantine recommendations for people that have been exposed to a positive case of COVID-19. This applies in non-healthcare, non-residential settings only. This includes businesses, education and child care settings.
- Close contacts of COVID-positive cases will no longer need to quarantine for 14 days if a face covering was worn consistently and correctly by the positive case and close contacts. The positive case must isolate. The close contacts should self-monitor.
- Self-monitoring entails close monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms over the subsequent 14 days, staying home if any symptoms develop, and speaking with a healthcare provider about COVID-19 testing in the case of any illness.
- If people who are self-monitoring become ill but do not get tested, they should remain home until 10 days after symptom onset.
- People currently in quarantine may be released from quarantine if a face covering was worn consistently and correctly by the positive case and close contacts during exposure.
- If the positive case wore a face covering, but close contacts did not, those close contacts must be quarantined.
- If the positive case did not wear a face covering, close contacts must quarantine whether or not they wore a face covering.
- Quarantine of close contacts will still be necessary in residential and healthcare settings.
Please find an infographic depicting the new IDPH recommendations at https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/userfiles/61/covid19/resources/WhenToQuarantine.pdf
Masks are proven to be effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Increased mask use will reduce the number of individuals that need to quarantine. Along with wearing a face covering, we ask that everyone continue all recommended public health strategies:
- Stay home when sick.
- Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet whenever possible.
- Wash hands frequently.
This approach is based on data and focused feedback to the Governor and IDPH from community and school leaders around the state over the past month indicating that transmission is not frequently occurring when both parties are wearing face coverings consistently and correctly. Additionally, the state (IDPH) is aware of other jurisdictions, including Nebraska and Wyoming, that have made similar changes based on experiences in their states. IDPH will continue to make recommendations based on best available information research with adjustments as needed.
In conjunction with this new exposure guidance, please see this guidance from the CDC regarding masks: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html
29 New Cases in Dubuque County, 591 New Cases and 7 Deaths Statewide
24-HOUR CHANGES & NEW TOTALS
(11 a.m. yesterday to 11 a.m. today):
POSITIVE CASES
- Dubuque County: 29new cases. Total confirmed cases to date = 3,341
- Iowa: 591 new cases. Total confirmed cases to date = 87,509

Dubuque County Cases by Zip Code
The Dubuque County Public Health Incident Management Team now has access to zip code level data for COVID-19 in Dubuque County. The team plans to provide weekly updates on this data.
Due to privacy concerns, data for zip codes with fewer than 100 population and fewer than five cases cannot be shared publicly. Please note that the case counts are for the entire zip code, not just cities/towns. Please note that the data reported today is from Sept. 25.
Total Number of Positive Cases from March 15 - Sept. 25 by Zip Code:
52001 (Dubuque/Sageville): 1,400
52002 (Asbury/Dubuque): 418
52003 (Dubuque): 406
52040 (Dyersville): 208
52068 (Peosta/Centralia): 147
52045 (Epworth/Bankston): 112
52046 (Farley): 110
52033 (Cascade) : 98
52032 (Bernard): 41
52073 (Sherrill/Balltown): 29
52065 (New Vienna): 28
52053 (Holy Cross): 27
52078 (Worthington): 26
52039 (Durango): 17
52079 (Zwingle): 952056: (Luxemburg): <5


Click on map to see a larger version

Click on map to see a larger version
DEATHS
- Dubuque County: No additional deaths. Total deaths to date = 41
- Iowa: 7 additional deaths. Total deaths to date = 1,324
TESTING & POSITIVITY RATE (As reported by the Iowa Department of Public Health)
Dubuque County:
- 122 more individuals tested. Total residents tested to date = 30,007
- Dubuque County Test Positivity Rate: 14-day average = 16.0%, average to date = 11.1%.
Iowa:
- 4,280 more individuals tested. Total Iowa residents tested to date = 790,713
- Iowa Test Positivity Rate: 14-day average = 8.6%, average to date = 11.1%
HOSPITALIZATIONS
- Dubuque County: Hospitalized = 20 as of Sept. 26. (2 more than Sept. 24.)
- Iowa: Currently hospitalized = 376. (23 more than yesterday.)
RECOVERIES
- Dubuque County: New recoveries = 39. Total number of recoveries = 2,054
- Iowa: New recoveries = 1,198. Total number of recoveries = 67,418
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY OUTBREAKS
- Dubuque County: Two long-term care facility outbreaks:
Sunnycrest Manor, Dubuque (14 positive cases, 11 recoveries)
MercyOne Dyersville Senior Care, Dyersville (10 positive cases, 0 recoveries) - Iowa: 50 outbreaks (same as yesterday)
For the most current information on COVID-19, visit https://coronavirus.iowa.gov.
For COVID-19 information specific to Dubuque County, visit www.dubuquecounty.org/COVID19
Video Update: Avoid Pandemic Fatigue
The Monday, Sept. 28, video update from the Dubuque County Public Health Incident Management Team can be seen at https://youtu.be/v0qNTVTBtZ4 The video includes a review of county and statewide stats as of Sept. 28 as well as:
- information on antigen testing and required testing at long-term care facilities and how those test results are reported
- predictions of the increased spread of the virus in fall/winter
being mindful of "pandemic fatigue" and remaining vigilant

Media Contact
Randy Gehl, Public Information Officer
Email Randy Gehl
This message is from the Dubuque County Public Health Incident Management Team, which includes staff from the from the Dubuque County Health Department, City of Dubuque Health Department, Dubuque County Emergency Management Agency, and the Dubuque Visiting Nurse Association.