Record increase in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations in Clayton County
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
Clayton County saw 156 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the past week, jumping from 421 on Oct. 26 to 577 by Nov. 2. That total has increased by 226 cases in the past two weeks, pushing the county’s 14-day positivity rate, which measures the percentage of positive tests in that span, to 22.9 percent—sixth worst in the state of Iowa.
The increase prompted the CEOs of Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics (GMHC) and MercyOne Elkader Medical Center, Tim Ahlers and Brooke Kensinger, to release a joint statement on Friday.
“In the past seven days, Clayton County has had its largest increase in COVID-19 positive cases as well as hospitalizations,” the statement read. “From the start of the pandemic, MercyOne Elkader Medical Center and Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics have been prepared for higher volumes, but have remained relatively stable. That environment changed this week. Now, our hospitals are experiencing the highest level of COVID-19 related hospitalizations since the start of the pandemic. Our hospitals are not yet at capacity and remain prepared to care for those in need.”
Of Clayton County’s 577 confirmed cases, 214 are currently active, according to data provided by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH). Since March, three Clayton County residents have died as a result of COVID-19.
“The cases we are now seeing are spread throughout the county and are no longer isolated to an event or age group,” noted Dr. Michele Dikkers, a physician at Cornerstone Family Practice and GMHC who is also the chair of the Clayton County Board of Health. “The cases are now considered due to community spread. Community spread means it is spread by casual contact or exposure to someone that is contagious. You can be contagious if you have mild symptoms, or it may be during the two days prior to symptoms starting.”
The hospital CEOs asked Clayton County residents to band together and act now to lower the transmission rates, which would, in turn, lower the risk of overwhelming the local health care systems.
“It is critical that we work together as a community to take the steps we know can reduce the spread of COVID-19. We continue to encourage community members to wear face coverings, maintain physical distancing, limit group gatherings and practice good hand hygiene and sanitizing to minimize the spread of the virus,” the statement read. “We need everyone to take this seriously to slow the spread. Together, we can protect ourselves, our families and our neighbors.”
In addition, the timing of this new wave of COVID-19 cases coincides with the annual influenza season. Ahlers and Kensinger said it is more important than ever to get a flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend all people six months and older get flu vaccinations to protect themselves and others from getting influenza.
“Hospitals and clinics are safe, and our providers are here to take care of you,” they added. “It’s important to keep routine appointments and seek treatment for acute medical conditions.”
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IDPH said Iowa added 1,469 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking the state’s total to 132,106. That’s an increase of 15,439 confirmed cases from a week ago. So far, 93,912 Iowans have recovered from the disease.
The statewide 14-day positivity rate is currently 14.5 percent, up four points from last week. Nearly half of Iowa’s counties are reporting positivity rates over 15 percent.
As of Monday, a record 718 people around the state were hospitalized due to coronavirus, up 157 people from last week and 42 from Sunday. Of those hospitalized, 156 were in the ICU.
There have been 1,738 deaths in Iowa, including 17 reported on Monday. According to IDPH, 92 Iowans have died as a result of COVID-19 over the past week.
Two of those deaths were in nearby Delaware County, whose total is now up to 15.
Delaware has a 14-day positivity rate of 24.3 percent, which is third worst in the state.
