Henry County Board of Health learn COVID-19 spike in state expected to come in late April, early May

HENRY COUNTY - The anticipated spike of coronavirus cases in Iowa is expected to come in late April or the beginning of May, Shelley Van Dorin, Henry County Public Health Director, informed the county's board of health on Thursday.

In an update on COVID-19, Van Dorin confirmed there are currently 15 cases in the county.

'With the bed count and ventilators, they think we should have enough for the surge, which is wonderful,” Van Dorin said of the state's preparation for the coming spike in cases.

The public health director added personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers still is a concern.

'The federal stockpile has been depleted and our state stockpile has been depleted,” Van Dorin said. She said she spoke to local long-term care facilities, who are continuing to use their regular avenues to try to obtain PPE until that is no longer an option.

Van Dorin also explained changes to requirements on how local public health departments are required to track coronavirus cases.

'We used to have to call them daily. Now we just have to call them after the seven days to make sure that they are recovering so we can let them out of isolation. And if they're not, we have to call them back every three days so we can release them from isolation,” she added.

Van Dorin added the state has started six regional medical coordination centers (RMCC), which monitors supplies and equipment needed to address coronavirus cases. At the end of each day, the center informs counties within their region where the highest needs are. The RMCC for Henry County is in Iowa City, Van Dorin said.

In terms of case investigation tracing, Van Dorin said the department is 'focusing on the risk and the highest risk is household contact in health care workers.” She also added the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changed guidelines and public health departments are expected to trace back to 48 hours before the start of symptoms.

Van Dorin added there is also an active tuberculosis in the county the public health department is also monitoring.

Following the update, board member Dr. Tom Bainbridge asked about where tests are being conducted. Van Dorin said tests being sent to the state hygienics lab must fall under the state's algorithm and qualifications to obtain a test.

'If they use a reference lab like Quest of LabCorp they have a little more latitude on who to test. The problem is those LabCorp and Quests are taking five to seven days, so it is definitely a problem,” Van Dorin explained. With the state lab, there is about a 24 hour turnaround, she added.

During the meeting, board members also received an environmental update from Jeff Cole with the county's Department of Environmental health. Cole said his department issued three permits in the month of March and completed a water test that came back positive for both coliform bacteria and e coli. Cole said he also completed four tanning inspections in the first week of the month, however his department has temporarily paused water tests.

'Right now taking names and letting customers know that as soon as this is over with or to a point where I can go out and do [water tests], that I will call them and start that up. I have two of them right now that I've already got names and ready to go once we get going,” Cole explained.

Cole also asked for the board to approve a $20,525 grant from the Grants to Counties Water Well Program his department received from the state.

'We should be fine with the rest of the year until the end of June with the $20,000 out there to spend,” Cole added. The funding was approved unanimously by the board.