News Flash

64 New Cases in Dubuque County; 1,225 New Cases and 14 Deaths Statewide

Iowa, Dubuque County, & Dubuque Remain 'Red Zones'

24-HOUR CHANGES & NEW TOTALS  
(11 a.m. yesterday to 11 a.m. today): 

POSITIVE CASES 

• Dubuque County: 64 new cases. Total confirmed cases to date = 3,960 
• Iowa: 1,225 new cases. Total confirmed cases to date = 97,095

DEATHS 

• Dubuque County: No additional deaths. Total deaths to date = 47 
• Iowa: 14 additional deaths. Total deaths to date = 1,433

TESTING & POSITIVITY RATE 

Dubuque County:

• 320 more individuals tested. Total residents tested to date = 32,343
• Dubuque County Test Positivity Rate: 14-day average = 13.4%, average to date = 12.2%.  

Iowa:

• 7,295 more individuals tested. Total Iowa residents tested to date = 849,21
• Iowa Test Positivity Rate: 14-day average = 8.9%,  average to date = 11.4%

HOSPITALIZATIONS 

• Dubuque County: Hospitalized =  27 as of Oct. 7. (1 less than Oct. 6.) 
• Iowa: Currently hospitalized = 461*.  (12 more than yesterday.)
   * = Record High

RECOVERIES 

• Dubuque County: New recoveries = 34. Total number of recoveries = 2,410
• Iowa: New recoveries = 876. Total number of recoveries = 75,059

LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY OUTBREAKS 

• Dubuque County: Two long-term care facility outbreaks:
  Sunnycrest Manor, Dubuque (17 positive cases, 14 recoveries)
   MercyOne Dyersville Senior Care, Dyersville (19 positive cases, 7 recoveries) 
• Iowa: 57 outbreaks (4 more than yesterday) 

For the most current information on COVID-19, visit https://coronavirus.iowa.gov. 
For COVID-19 information specific to Dubuque County, visit www.dubuquecountyiowa.gov/COVID19

White House Coronavirus Task Force Report Keeps Iowa, Dubuque County and Dubuque as 'Red Zones'

According to the Oct. 4 White House Coronavirus Task Force report, Iowa was in the red zone for cases last week, indicating 101 or more new cases per 100,000 population last week, with the sixth highest rate in the country. Iowa is in the yellow zone for test positivity, indicating a rate between 5.0% and 7.9%, with the 12th highest rate in the country.

Dubuque County was one of 30 red zone counties while Dubuque was one of six red zone localities last week. Iowa remains at high levels of new cases and test positivity over the last week. The following three counties had the highest number of new cases over the last three weeks: 1. Polk County, 2. Woodbury County, and 3. Dubuque County. These counties represent 25.4% of new cases in Iowa over the last three weeks.

 The task force's recommendations include:

• Continue testing at high levels to rapidly identify cases and support isolation.
• Messaging to communities about effectiveness of masks is critical as many outdoor activities will be moving indoors with colder weather approaching. Masks must be worn indoors in all public settings and group gathering sizes should be limited.
• Work with rural communities to message masks work and protect individuals from COVID-19. In high transmission zones, limit indoor dining, bar hours, and expand outdoor dining options.

Read the full Iowa section of the Oct. 4 report from the White House Coronavirus Task Force.  https://www.cityofdubuque.org/DocumentCenter/View/46929/Oct-4-2020-White-House-Coronavirus-Task-Force---Iowa-Section

Free, Local COVID-19 Testing Options

Hy-Vee Offers Free Testing at Locust Street Location in Dubuque
Hy-Vee, Inc. has expanded its free COVID-19 testing service to more locations, including it's Locust Street location (400 S. Locust St.) in Dubuque. Each location can accommodate up to 12 patients per hour. The tests are free and are administered via a Hy-Vee pharmacy drive-thru testing process. Individuals do not have to have COVID-19 symptoms to be tested, but they must register online to receive a test voucher number, testing site and appointment time. The COVID-19 tests are being coordinated by eTrueNorth.

To register for a test voucher number, visit www.doineedacovid19test.com. Each patient will need to answer the questions and provide requested information in order to receive a test voucher number, testing site location and appointment time. The patient will then arrive at the specified test site pharmacy drive-thru with either a printed voucher number or show the voucher number on their phone before given a test kit. The Hy-Vee pharmacy employee will provide the test kit, provide instructions on how to self-administer the test and supervise the administration of the test. The patient will then drop off their completed kit in a collection bin.

The entire test process takes about five minutes. From there, the Hy-Vee pharmacy collects all tests, which are shipped to a lab via the United Parcel Service (UPS). Results will then be sent to the patient by email in three to five business days.
 

Test Iowa Clinics Continue
Two Test Iowa clinics are available in Dubuque County and provide free testing for all Iowa residents:

• Epic Health and Wellness: To be tested at this location, you must first take the Test Iowa assessment at www.testiowa.com. All testing at this location is by appointment, Monday through Thursday.  After taking the assessment, appointments can be made by calling 563.583.6595 or scheduled online. 

•  Grand River Medical Group offers testing at its Respiratory Clinic location (1400 University Ave., Apt. #6).  Hours of operation are Mondays – Thursdays, 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. and Fridays 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., by appointment only, scheduled online through the Test Iowa website.  After completing the questionnaire, you will receive a QR code and may request an appointment at a local clinic location. When choosing Grand River Medical Group as the location, you will be asked to schedule your appointment utilizing the online tools. No appointments will be scheduled by phone. Drive-up testing will not be offered at this location. All appointments will be scheduled as in-clinic appointments. 

Hartig Drug Company pharmacies and Union Family Pharmacy are also offering free COVID-19 test collection, also by appointment, in Dubuque. This free COVID-19 test collection program is not affiliated with Test Iowa and is implemented in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Test collection sites for this program can be found at DoINeedACovid19Test.com. The online portal helps patients make test collection appointments. Any individual, regardless of their state of residence, is eligible to test, even if they are not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

Please note that advance registration is required and test collection schedules vary by site. To register, or for more information, visit DoINeedACovid19Test.com.

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.