LINN COUNTY, IA – Linn County Public Health and local healthcare partners continue to work together and plan for prevention and response to the expanding global outbreak of COVID-19.
“Since the start of this outbreak, Linn County Public Health (LCPH) has closely been working with our medical community and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) to monitor for COVID-19,” said LCPH Director Pramod Dwivedi. “We have and will continue to work with our local, state and national partners to be ready in case the virus does come to Iowa.”
Community members are also encouraged to plan for the potential spread of COVID-19. To date, no one in Iowa has tested positive for COVID-19. Currently, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is low, but the immediate health risk from seasonal influenza is high. There are things all Linn County residents can do to help prevent the spread of all viruses, including influenza and COVID-19.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper arm/elbow
- Clean your hands frequently with soap and water
- Contain germs by staying home when ill
Community members should prepare for the potential of COVID-19 in the same way they prepare for other illnesses or events that could disrupt their normal routine. This includes making a plan and discussing it with your family. What would you do if you could not go to work or school because of illness? What if your day care provider was ill? How would you get groceries if you were ill? These are all questions to consider.
Symptoms of the COVID-19 in people who have been exposed can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. The symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure.
More information about the disease itself is available at:
MEDIA CONTACTS: Heather Meador, Linn County Public Health, (319) 892-6061; Karen VanderSanden, Mercy Medical Center, (319) 398-6083; Sarah Corizzo, UnityPoint Health - Cedar Rapids; Erin Byers Langdon, Eastern Iowa Health Center (319) 432-8490.