What qualifies as a "recovery" from COVID-19?
“Recovered” numbers come through the contact tracing process. At the end of the isolation period for positive COVID 19 patients, they are contacted by the IDPH contact tracing staff to assess their symptoms to see if:
- They have been fever free for at least three days (72 hours) without the use of fever-reducing medications.
- Their symptoms have improved (i.e. when cough or shortness of breath has improved)
- At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
Persons who test PCR (viral testing) positive for COVID-19, but do not experience symptoms, should self-isolate until:
- At least 10 days have passed since the date of the first positive test AND
- They continue to have no symptoms (no cough or shortness of breath) since the test.)
So if these criteria are met, AND they are released by public health/IDPH, the person is considered “recovered.”
Eight New Cases in Dubuque County, 383 New Cases and Two Additional Deaths in Iowa
Positive Cases
Between 2 p.m. yesterday and 2 p.m. today, the IDPH reported eight new positive cases of COVID-19 in Dubuque County, increasing the county total to 493. For the state, 383 additional cases were reported in that same time frame giving Iowa a total of 27,977 positive cases.
Deaths
No additional deaths were reported in Dubuque County so the county total remains at 22. Two additional deaths were reported statewide, increasing the state death total to 704.
Testing
As of 2 p.m. today, the IDPH website reported that 9,584 Dubuque County residents have been tested, up 480 from yesterday, with a positive test rate of 5.1 percent. 289,354 Iowans have been tested, an increase of 7,328 since yesterday, for a positive test rate of 9.7 percent. One in 10 Dubuque County residents have been tested and one in 11 Iowa residents.
Hospitalizations & Recoveries
As of today, 131 Iowans were hospitalized due to COVID-19, 10 fewer than than yesterday. The number of Dubuque County residents hospitalized is five, up two from yesterday. Statewide, 17,455 Iowans have recovered (up 209 from yesterday), including 251 Dubuque County residents (two more than yesterday).
Long-Term Care Facility Outbreaks
According to the IDPH, as of 2 p.m. today there are 26 long-term care facilities in Iowa with COVID-19 outbreaks, the same as yesterday. There is one long-term care facility outbreak in Dubuque County at Dubuque Specialty Care, which has 51 positive cases and 24 recovered cases (the same as yesterday). Statewide, IDPH is reporting 783 positive cases at long-term care facilities (seven more than reported yesterday), 489 recovered (12 more than reported yesterday), and 362 deaths (two more than yesterday). The number of cases and recovered include both residents and staff.
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
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.