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COVID-19

Health Department to keep up COVID fight

Although a statewide health emergency declaration has been lifted, the Webster County Health Department will remain vigilant in its efforts to stop COVID-19. Local residents shouldn’t let their guard down either, according to a nurse active in the anti-COVID effort. ‘‘Nothing has changed in what we have recommended to you to protect yourself from COVID,’’ Tricia Nichols, a public health nurse with the Webster County Health Department, said Friday. Those recommendations include getting vaccinated and staying home when sick. The Health Department is not changing its ...

Doctor: Flurona cases possible, but rare

The term “flurona” has gained national attention in recent days after reports of patients having tested positive for both coronavirus and influenza A or B. Dr. Mike Willerth, chief medical officer for UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center, said while possible, only a small fraction of people have tested positive for both illnesses. He said he isn’t aware of any such cases locally. According to Willerth, throughout the U.S. less than 0.1 percent of COVID cases have had a combined infection. Willerth said both COVID and the flu primarily affect the ...

Webster Co. Health: One test, please

Webster County Health Department is asking that people do not try to test for COVID-19 or influenza at more than one provider in a day. “If a person has been tested for COVID and/or influenza at one provider, please do not go to another provider in hopes of getting a different result,” said Kelli Bloomquist, public information officer for WCHD. “This is happening quite a bit right now and is a continued strain on health care resources and staffing. Test results will not change from one location to another.” She said, “If an individual has been exposed to someone who is COVID ...

Surge continues

Multiple cars could be seen in line near Community Health Center’s COVID-19 testing site on Wednesday. The line appeared to be steady during the late morning and early afternoon hours, a sign that a high number of residents continue to feel ill as COVID variants and other illnesses spread. Webster County’s positivity rate has been climbing. It has more than doubled its COVID positivity rate in one week. Meanwhile, hospitals like UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center continue to deal with staff shortages as health care workers themselves become ill. “Health ...

Webster County COVID-19 statistics reported

Over the past seven days, there have been 157 positive COVID-19 cases reported in Webster County, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. That is almost double the 81 positive cases reported in the previous seven day period. The Department of Public Health reported that in the most recent seven day period, 10 percent of the COVID-19 tests administered were positive. The department’s statistics show that 25 percent of the new cases are in people ages 18 to 29. Since the pandemic began, there have been 7,988 COVID-19 cases in Webster County. There have been 124 deaths ...

Take home COVID tests available

Webster County health care clinics are again seeing a high volume of sick patients, the Webster County Health Department reported earlier this week. If you are needing COVID-19 testing and are symptomatic, please call your primary care provider. Tests for symptomatic patients are also available at Community Health Center, UnityPoint Health, and Iowa Specialty Clinic. If you are asymptomatic, worried well, or are needing testing for travel clearance, please contact WCHD for testing at 515-573-4107. Take home tests are also available in the main lobby of the WCHD building at 723 ...