COVID-19 still on the rise in our region

Apr. 1--In the past week, Des Moines County Public Heath Administrator Christa Poggemiller has noticed people taking COVID-19 more seriously.

She said there was not a specific moment she can point out, but when stores began marking places for people to stand in line, six feet apart, it brought awareness of the situation's severity to the public.

She also said the protection shield at grocery stores between employees and members of the public is another good change that will help limit the spread of coronavirus.

Poggemiller said during the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday she had one change in staffing.

"We pulled a nurse and put her on the public information line," Poggemiller said.

This nurse will be on hand to answer any questions about COVID-19 the public might have. Poggemiller also said a new member of the board of health also was appointed to take the place of a board member who has taken a temporary sabbatical.

Poggemiller said the most important thing she can tell people is to keep doing as they have done to keep themselves safe. She reiterated the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to cover coughs, stay home when sick and adhere to social distancing rules.

"Together we are all going to get through this," Poggemiller said. "I appreciate everyone pulling together."

Iowa: The latest

Iowa coronavirus cases increased by 73 on Tuesday to a total statewide of 497 due to surging numbers in populous counties in central and eastern Iowa, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported.

One additional death was reported, a Muscatine resident between 41 and 60 years old. Seven people in Iowa have died of the disease caused by the coronavirus.

The virus is now present in 57 of Iowa's 99 counties, but case counts have been growing fastest in Linn County in eastern Iowa, where an additional 19 cases were reported Tuesday for a total of 90. On Monday, public health officials acknowledged an outbreak in a Cedar Rapids long-term care facility.

Heritage Specialty Care, a nursing home that has more than 100 residents in Cedar Rapids, confirmed Tuesday it is the facility where the virus has infected residents and employees. Gov. Kim Reynolds said the number of cases linked to the facility has climbed from 21 on Monday to 30 on Tuesday.

The home is owned by West Des Moines-based Care Initiatives, which operates 44 skilled nursing and long-term care facilities in Iowa. Marketing director Jason Bridie said the home has about 125 employees, who are working extra shifts and up to 12-hour days to continue to care for residents.

"The people that are working are working their tails off and putting in an extraordinary amount of sacrifice," he said. "We have people that aren't going home to their families because they don't want to risk the chance that maybe they are carrying it and don't know it."

He said that Heritage is so far the only one of its facilities that has seen a COVID-19 infection. Staff members across the chain have enough personal protective equipment after receiving new supplies in recent days, he said.

Speaking at the governor's daily news conference, Sarah Reisetter, deputy director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, said officials expect the number of cases in Iowa to peak within the next two to three weeks.

Reynolds also announced a COVID-19 legal information hotline for people with questions or problems related to the outbreak. The line, arranged by Iowa Legal Aid, Iowa State Bar Association and Polk County Volunteer Lawyer Project, is 1-800-332-0419.

Illinois: The latest

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday extended his statewide stay-at-home order for three weeks as the nation struggles to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Pritzker set a new deadline of April 30 for keeping people inside except if necessary to go to a job deemed essential or take care of needs such as getting food or going to a health care provider.

The new coronavirus had led to the deaths of at least 99 people in Illinois out of more than 5,994 infections. And the number continues to grow, Pritzker said.

"Our greatest risk of of hitting capacity isn't right now, but weeks from now," Pritzker said. "The virus is spreading and growing. So are its risks. We must not let up now."

The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, a bipartisan legislative fiscal analyst, said Tuesday that it's possible that the economic impact of COVID-19 could mean a drop in state tax revenues of $8 billion -- about 20% of the state's typical annual income -- although the loss might be spread over several years.

Pritzker initially closed schools and restaurants and bars on March 13, then issued the stay-at-home order a week later. The period was to end April 7, but experts have said the rising number of cases in Illinois won't have reached its peak by then.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump said that social-distancing rules -- staying at least 6 feet apart from others and not gathering in groups larger than 10 -- should run through April.

For most people, COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. Older adults and people with existing health problems are among those particularly susceptible to more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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