Henry County Court House and offices closing to the public

HENRY COUNTY - All non-essential county facilities and offices in Henry County will be closed to the public beginning Tuesday, March 17 in accordance with directives from the state to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

Public Health Director, Shelley Van Dorin, gave an update during the Board of Supervisors meeting, sharing that there are currently 23 reported cases in three counties across Iowa; she noted there are currently no cases in Henry County. About 156 individuals in the state are currently undergoing monitoring. Van Dorin recommended county offices close to the public for at least four weeks and follow the lead of schools when determining when to reopen.

'The situation is very fluid. It changes daily,” Van Dorin said.

The public health director added that because there have now been several cases of community spread, the state's response has moved from prevention to mitigation.

'We don't want a lot of people to get sick at once. We want little sickness for longer,” she explained. When asked about available test kits, Van Dorin said there are '208 test kits in the city right now.”

Following Van Dorin's update, department heads for the county discussed procedures their offices would be taking moving forward. Most offices will be locking their doors and putting up signage to direct citizens on how to get in contact with staff. Offices are also encouraging people to handle services online if possible.

Currently, all driver's license tests have been suspended until further notice. The renewal period for expired licenses has been extended by 60 days to give people adequate time for renewal.

The Treasurer's Office is encouraging people to use the county's drop box to pay for their taxes. For individuals who have scheduled court hearings with the clerk of court can call ahead of time and will be let in as needed.

All indoor activities with the Conservation Office and at the county's Nature Center have been canceled, however outdoor activities will continue. Parks and trails also will remain open.

The Sheriff's office will continue to respond to calls and will be operating normally, but will be closing its office lobby and canceling visitations for inmates. Sheriff Rich McNamee noted all inmates are screened before they enter the facility. The office has also lengthened the window for sex offenders to register with the office. McNamee added he is currently looking at meal alternatives for inmates in case the local Hy-Vee closes.