Greene County public health and its community response partners including emergency medical services (EMS), law enforcement, Emergency Management Agency (EMA) along with Greene County Medical Center continue ramping up response plan strategies to serve those who may require more than home self-care for COVID-19.
The following are plans and strategies put in place through Greene County public health, Greene County Medical Center and their partners.
• Greene County Emergency Operation Center is operational through virtual meetings twice a week; both public health and the medical center participate
• Greene County Medical Center initiated Incident Command Center March 17 via daily virtual meetings with leaders, providers and department leaders
Partial deployment of personal protective equipment (PPE) was received from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Thursday, March 26, and distributed to local EMS, law enforcement, EMA/medical examiner, Greene County Medical Center and public health. Weekly requests are submitted through the local EMA, which will forward requests to the state.
Donations of masks and other PPE are being accepted at the medical center and public health. Persons who want more information about medical center donations can email Danelle.mcdowell@gcmchealth.com. Persons can contact public health for their PPE donations. The medical center implement3ed accepting homemade medical masks from community members beginning March 31. These masks are for non-clinical staff to protect themselves and help with the shortage of PPE. Mask donations will be shared within the medical center, public health and other agencies.
Medical professionals offering to volunteer are directed to the state I-Serve (https://www.iaswerv.org). As of March 27, four volunteers are pending for the Greene County Medical Reserve Corp (MRC).
Through joint efforts of public health and Greene County Medical Center, as community spread of COVID-19 continues, important messaging continues to remind residents:
If you develop fever, cough, shortness of breath, assume you may have COVID-19 and STAY HOME until all three of the following are met: Free of fever for 72 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication like Tylenol); AND other symptoms are improving (cough, shortness of breath, etc.) AND seven days have passed since onset of your first symptom.
Also, through continuing joint efforts, Greene County residents are encouraged to “Stay Home, Stay Safe.” Eighty percent of those infected with COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate symptoms (like influenza). Suggested self-home care tips include:
• Take Tylenol for discomfort and fever
• Decongestants and cough syrup can be taken for cough/congestion
• Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydrations
• Rest, rest, and rest at home
• Avoid other household members to prevent spread
• Due to exposure, household members must remain at home (self-isolation) for 14 days after ill person became symptomatic
• Continue to wipe down household surfaces (and cell phones) several times a day
Rely on local media – GreeneCountyNewsOnline, Scranton Journal, Jefferson Herald and Raccoon Valley Radi0 – for accurate and up-to-date information. Greene County public health and the medical center continue to provide social media posts several times per week directing residents to resources such as the medical center’s website, Iowa Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control.
Visitor guidelines at the medical center were further restricted as of March 24. Visitors are not allowed unless he/she is a designated caregiver AND one of four categories are met: the patient is imminently dying; the patient is an infant or child; the patient is confused or delirious; or the patient is a mother in active labor.
Visitors must be 18 years or older; free of illness symptoms; screened before entry to the medical center; remain in the patient’s room; and follow hand hygiene before entering and exiting the patient’s room.
The public’s help is greatly appreciated in order to help lessen the spread of COVID-19 to the residents of Greene County. Persons who want more information about COVID-19 can visit gcmchealth.com, IDPH.iowa.gov/ or coronavirus.iowa.gov
