News Flash

Dubuque & Dubuque County Designated ’Yellow Zones’ in Latest White House Coronavirus Task Force Report

An Aug. 30, 2020, report issued by the White House Coronavirus Task Force has changed its previous designation of Dubuque and Dubuque County as "red zones" for community spread of COVID-19 to "yellow zones."

Red Zone: Those core-based statistical areas (CBSAs) and counties that during the last week reported both new cases above 100 per 100,000 population, and lab test positivity result above 10%.
Yellow Zone: Those CBSAs and counties that during the last week reported both new cases between 10-100 per 100,000 population, and a lab test positivity result between 5-10%, or one of those two conditions and one condition qualifying as being in the “Red Zone.”

Iowa is in the red zone for cases, indicating more than 100 new cases per 100,000 population last week, with the highest rate in the country. Iowa is in the red zone for test positivity, indicating a rate above 10%, with the fifth highest rate in the country. Ten Iowa metros and 28 counties are designated as red zones in this report. Read the report’s Iowa section at https://www.cityofdubuque.org/DocumentCenter/View/46642/Aug-30-2020-White-House-Coronavirus-Task-Force-Report---Iowa-Section-Only

10 New Cases in Dubuque County, 683 New Cases and 8 Deaths Statewide  

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

POSITIVE CASES 

• Dubuque County: 10 new cases. Total confirmed cases to date = 2,041
• Iowa: 683 new cases. Total confirmed cases to date = 65,397

DEATHS 

• Dubuque County: No additional deaths. Total deaths to date = 36
• Iowa: 8 additional deaths. Total deaths to date = 1,121

TESTING & POSITIVITY RATE (As reported by the Iowa Department of Public Health)

Dubuque County:

• 128 more individuals tested. Total residents tested to date = 24,157
• Dubuque County Test Positivity Rate: 14-day average = 7.1%, average to date = 8.4%.
  

Iowa:

• 3,429 more individuals tested. Total Iowa residents tested to date = 637,102
• Iowa Test Positivity Rate: 14-day average = 11.1%,  average to date = 10.3%

HOSPITALIZATIONS 

• Dubuque County: Hospitalized = 7 as of Aug. 29. No change from Aug. 28
• Iowa: Currently hospitalized = 311. 12 more than yesterday.

*NOTE: Due to the Aug. 10 derecho, some Iowans being treated for COVID-19 in a long-term care facility or at home may be transferred to a hospital or other health care facility for temporary treatment due to damage to their place of residence. This may cause hospitalization data or other data on the site to fluctuate in the short term.

RECOVERIES

• Dubuque County: New recoveries = 39. Total number of recoveries = 1,574
•  Iowa: New recoveries = 713. Total number of recoveries = 47,382

A positive COVID-19 patient is considered recovered if it has been at least 10 days since symptoms first appeared, they have gone at least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication, and symptoms have improved.

LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY OUTBREAKS

• Dubuque County: No long-term care facility outbreaks.
• Iowa: 32 outbreaks (Four fewer 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.dubuquecounty.org/COVID19

Video Update: Concentrate on What We Can Do

The Monday, Aug. 31, video update from the Dubuque County Public Health Incident Management Team is available for viewing at https://youtu.be/tE79_m93ORU  The update includes a review of county and statewide statistics, a review of the national publicity Iowa is receiving for community spread of the virus, discussion on antigen tests and the related change in test reporting, the team’s work with local K-12 systems and colleges/universities, and attendance and precautions at school-sponsored events.

Free Local Testing Opportunities

 The Dubuque Test Iowa Clinic, operated by Epic Health and Wellness, continues to offer free COVID-19 testing for any Iowan. 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.

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) and eTrueNorth, a laboratory services company focused on enhancing pharmacies’ access to diagnostic laboratory testing.

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.