The original item was published from 9/16/2021 9:57:37 AM to 10/1/2021 12:00:01 AM.

News Flash

COVID-19

Posted on: September 15, 2021

[ARCHIVED] September 15 Weekly Dubuque County COVID-19 Update

242 New Positive Individuals and 1 Death Since Sept. 8

Surge Continues in Dubuque County

Even though over 55% of Dubuque County residents are vaccinated, new case numbers continue to increase well above the CDC's "high community transmission" threshold rate of 100/100,000 population in the last seven days. Immunocompromised and unvaccinated individuals, along with children under 12 who are not eligible to be vaccinated, comprise approximately 43% of Dubuque county’s population and continue to be at highest risk.

Demand for Tests

The demand for COVID-19 tests continues to increase in Dubuque County with some providers no longer offering rapid tests due to supply or staffing issues and some providers reporting inventory issues with over-the-counter purchased tests. Test Iowa take-home test kits are still available from local distributors. Please utilize testing services or take-home test kits available from local providers, pharmacies, and public health. For details, visit www.dubuquecountyiowa.gov/565/Local-COVID-19-Testing-Options

Residents are urged to NOT visit emergency departments/rooms for testing or mild COVID symptoms.

Planning Under Way for Boosters

As we await final FDA and ACIP approval for the third booster dose of COVID-19 vaccinations, the Dubuque County Public Health Incident Management Team is working with vaccine providers and doctors offices to develop plans for the administration of booster doses. There is no need to contact your doctor at this time to schedule a booster shot. Please stay tuned for additional information as plans for community and healthcare provider vaccine sites and opportunities are finalized.

Protect Yourself, Your Family, and Your Community

There are a number of things Iowans can do to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 and prevent spreading the virus in their communities:

Get vaccinated
Wear a mask in public indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status
Social distance in public settings
Stay home if you are sick

Get tested for COVID if you have symptoms or were exposed

DUBUQUE COUNTY CHANGES & TOTALS

(Sept. 8 to Sept.15)

POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS

https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/pages/case-counts

242 new positive individuals since Sept. 8
Total positive individuals to date = 14,547

ACTIVE CASES

667 active cases in Dubuque County. (126 more than Sept. 8)

Active COVID-19 Cases in Dubuque County 9-15-21 (JPG)

COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION RATE

https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view

The CDC continues to rate Dubuque County at the HIGH level of community transmission of COVID-19.
7-Day New Case Rate per 100K Population through Sept. 12 = 149
Percent Positivity (last 7 days) through Sept. 11 = 9.39% (+1.2% change in last 7 days)

HOSPITALIZATIONS

https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/pages/rmcc-data

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has not updated its hospitalization data for individual counties since Sept. 8.
Dubuque County Residents Hospitalized = 21 as of Sept. 8. (6 more than Sept. 1)
Statewide hospitalizations are also increasing with the 78.3% of those currently hospitalized due to COVID and 87.3% of those in ICU due to COVID being unvaccinated individuals. Details at https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/pages/hospital-data

COVID-19 Hospitalizations of Dubuque County Residents 9-15-21 (JPEG)