The 14-day positivity rate for Covid-19 testing in Greene County is at 11.7 percent as of Friday morning. Greene County public health director Becky Wolf reported just two new cases were identified in the previous 24 hours.
“We’re proud of you, Greene County, for helping us reduce our 14-day positivity rate and decreasing the number of cases reported each day,” Wolf said. “We do, however, anticipate a renewed surge of cases in coming weeks due to Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday gatherings. Greene County public health strongly urges everyone to reconsider traditional celebrations involving non-household members.”
The total number of cases in the county is 565. Of those, 286 are active cases and 279 persons are considered “recovered.” There have been 101 new cases in the past 14 days, 29 in the past seven days, and 10 in the past three days.
Thirty-eight percent of the total patients had no pre-existing health condition and 38 percent had no Covid symptoms.
Wolf highlighted new Centers for Disease Control recommendations for the length of quarantine. Based on local availability of Covid testing, people without symptoms who have been exposed to the virus can end their quarantine:
- After Day 10 without testing and if no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring.
- On Day 7 after receiving a negative test result AND if no symptoms were reported during daily monitoring. The specimen may be collected and tested within 48 hours before the time of planned quarantine discontinuation, but quarantine cannot be discontinued earlier than after Day 7.
After stopping quarantine, people should:
- Watch for symptoms until 14 days after exposure.
- Immediately self-isolate and contact their local public health authority or healthcare provider if they develop symptoms.
- Wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet from others, wash their hands, avoid crowds, and take other steps to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
CDC continues to endorse quarantine for 14 days and recognizes that any quarantine shorter than 14 days balances reduced burden against a small possibility of spreading the virus.
Wolf also provided a summary of Gov Kim Reynolds Dec. 3 announcement of a tentative timeline for distributing a limited supply of vaccine (approximately 27,000 doses) expected to arrive in Iowa beginning the week of Dec. 14. The most at-risk priority groups – healthcare workers and residents of nursing homes – will be offered the initial doses. As more shipments arrive, efforts will be expanded to vaccinate residents in additional priority groups. Greene County public health will continue to share information as it is received.
Breakdown for age groups for Greene County positive cases is as follows:
- 0-18 years: 15 percent
- 19-39 years: 27 percent
- 40-59 years: 32 percent
- 60-74 years: 20 percent
- 80 and older: 6 percent
Positive cases by zip code are:
- Jefferson: 315
- Scranton: 73
- Churdan: 39
- Grand Junction: 42
- Rippey: 24
- Paton: 27
- Dana: 1
- Coon Rapids: 5
- Bagley: 6
- Jamaica: 5
- Perry: 3
- Lake City: 1
- Gowrie: 2
Gov Kim Reynolds and the Greene County board of supervisors have mandated all persons older than 2 years old who are physically able must wear a mask when in a public place and unable to maintain a 6-foot distance from others.
