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Six COVID-19 related deaths in Clayton County over past week

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By Audrey Posten, Times-Register

The number of COVID-19 related deaths in Clayton County more than doubled over the past week, rising from five to 11, according to data from the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH).

All other area counties reported additional COVID-19 fatalities as well, including 10 in Dubuque County, two each in Allamakee and Fayette counties and one each in Delaware and Winneshiek counties.

There have been 2,718 total deaths in Iowa, including 35 reported on Monday. According to IDPH, 315 Iowans have died as a result of COVID-19 in the past week. 

The news comes as Clayton County saw an increase of 86 new COVID-19 infections over the past week—the smallest weekly jump in a month. Per IDPH, the county’s total grew from 1,118 on Nov. 30 to 1,204 as of Dec. 7.

Over two weeks, the total has risen by 184 cases. 

The Iowa COVID-19 website, which tracks outbreaks at long term care facilities, noted 23 of those are associated with the Guttenberg Care Center, while McGregor’s Great River Care Center has had one case in the past two weeks.

Of Clayton County’s 1,204 confirmed cases, 481 are currently active. The county’s 14-day positivity rate, which measures the percentage of positive tests in that span, sits at 20 percent, down five percentage points from this time last week. Over seven days, the positivity rate is 14 percent

Overall, Iowa has a 14-day positivity rate of 16.4  percent, down a point from a week ago, and a seven-day positivity rate of 13.4 percent.

Last week,  the state of Iowa updated the positive case analysis dashboard on coronavirus.iowa.gov to include new data for total tests, in addition to individuals tested, providing the public with what it said is more comprehensive testing data that more clearly illustrates recent virus activity and testing volume.

The information for tests and individuals is displayed in total and by day, by test type and by county.

Also included are the current 14-day and seven-day averages for positivity rate and individuals positive per population of 100,000 at statewide and county levels. These trends are more comprehensive indicators of recent virus activity than daily cases and positivity rates alone.

County maps display data for both the 14- and seven-day averages. Each map shows the total and percent positive cases when you hover over the county. If you click on the county, it will filter other data on the page, displaying information only for the county selected.

Data for total tests shows the complete volume of testing that has been reported in Iowa. It includes all tests reported, including multiple tests for an individual. 

Approximately 36 percent of Iowans who have had a COVID-19 test have tested at least twice, and many have tested multiple times, according to IDPH. More Iowans are testing more regularly now that testing resources and availability continue to expand.

IDPH said Iowa added 913 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking the state’s total to 245,235. That’s an increase of 15,777 confirmed cases from a week ago. 

As of Monday, 898 people around the state were hospitalized, down 264 people from last week. Of those hospitalized, 200 were in the ICU. 

This information and other data can also be found on Iowa’s COVID-19 website, which is updated in real time throughout each day.

New CDC guidelines on quarantine and testing

On Dec. 2, CDC guidelines were once again updated, stating that anyone who was exposed to a COVID-positive person can end their quarantine after 10 days without testing and if no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring. For those who are currently in quarantine, that means quarantine time is decreased by four days as long as the individual is not showing any symptoms of COVID-19. Anyone with any symptoms must remain in quarantine and should then be tested. 

A person may take a test on day five or after following exposure and, if negative, be off quarantine after day seven following exposure, as long as no symptoms have developed. It can take up to 72 hours to receive test results, so individuals must remain on quarantine until that negative result is received.

“Our local hospitals are very busy testing symptomatic COVID patients, so we are encouraging those with an exposure but no symptoms to contact Test Iowa to make an appointment for day five following your exposure, or after,” stated Lisa Moose, Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Public Health Director. Go to www.testiowa.com to schedule the test. 

Please note, the CDC recommends that anyone exposed should complete the full 14-day quarantine, but these are now options for shortening that time frame if no symptoms of COVID-19 are present.

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