PRESS RELEASE
May 24, 2020
Two additional cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in residents of Ringgold County. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, one of the individuals is an adult aged 18-40 and the second individual is aged 41-60. Both cases are related to targeted testing at a surrounding county employer. Both individuals are recovering at home. By HIPAA privacy and Iowa Code Chapter 22 laws, no further information can be given at this time.
Ringgold County Public Health has been proactively preparing for positive tests in Ringgold County. “These will likely not be the last cases we will see. That is why we encourage all residents to continue to make prevention a priority,” said Ringgold County Public Health Administrator, Becky Fletchall. These actions include:
- Stay home as much as possible. Leave only for essential errands like groceries or getting medication. When you run these errands, send only one person from the household if at all possible.
- Washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds each time
- Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow/upper arm
- Staying home when even mildly ill (the kind of illness that normally wouldn’t prevent you from your everyday activities)
Approximately 80 percent of Iowans infected with COVID-19 will experience only mild to moderate illness. Most mildly ill Iowans may not need to go to their healthcare provider or be tested to confirm that they have COVID-19. Sick Iowans must stay home and isolate themselves from others in their house until:
- You have had no fever for at least 72 hours (that is three full days of no fever without the use of medicine that reduces fever) AND
- Other symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath have improved AND
- At least 10 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared.
If you think that you may need to visit a healthcare provider, call first. Your provider can assess whether you need to be seen in the office or if you can recover at home. There may also be options for you to talk to a medical provider from home using technology.
For up-to-date information about novel coronavirus, visit https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus. In addition, a public hotline has been established for Iowans with questions about COVID-19. The line is available 24/7 by calling 2-1-1.