With 22 positive cases of COVID-19 infections in Iowa, most discovered in the last week, the virus has gained a foothold in seven counties and in age ranges from children to seniors. More recent cases have identified community spread from unknown sources that cannot be linked to travel from areas known to be infected.

Rapidly changing guidelines over the last two days from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control have left local agencies with uncertainty as they plan isolation measures to do their part in protecting the public. Saturday CDC guidelines discouraged gatherings of 50 people or more; Monday guidelines changed that number to just 10.

Here’s how local institutions are responding.

-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
 In light of new guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fort Dodge Hy-Vee’s recycling redemption center was closed.

Iowa Department

of Transportation

Services at the driver’s license station, 2313 First Ave. S., will be available by appointment only. Appointments can be made by calling (515) 244-8725.

All customers entering the driver’s license station will be asked a series of questions to evaluate their risk of exposure to COVID-19. If it is determined there may be a heightened risk, the individual will be asked to return on a later date.

The staff will monitor the number of people in the station. If it becomes crowded, people will be asked to wait in their vehicle or return later.

-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
Hy-Vee was completely devoid of hand sanitizer, toilet paper and most disinfectant sprays Monday afternoon. Hand soap supplies appeared to be dwindling as well.

MIDAS Council

of Governments

MIDAS Council of Governments announced Monday that it will temporarily reduce transit services for its two systems, Dodger Area Rapid Transit (DART) and the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) that serves Calhoun, Hamilton, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Webster and Wright Counties.

Effective Wednesday, all fixed routes and the Jefferson Lines daily routes will be suspended. Paratransit services and the Prestage work shuttle will still be offered, in addition to single person bus rides that limit social distance between community members. Rides can be scheduled at (515) 573-8145. Seats are scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

RTA transit services will also be reduced to one demand response bus per county. The Rockwell City/Manson to Fort Dodge service will be suspended starting Wednesday.

MIDAS tentatively plans to re-open all transit services April 1.

MIDAS previously announced measures to step up sanitizing its buses more frequently and offer hand sanitizer to all passengers.

City of Fort Dodge

The City of Fort Dodge released several notices of closures and cancellations on Monday.

In accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the city will not be accepting event permits for activities that involve groups of 50 or more individuals happening between March 16 and April 10. Questions can be directed to Ryan Maehl at (515) 576-4551.

As of Monday night, the Fort Dodge Public Library will remain open to patrons and will continue to offer access to collections, public computers, Wi-Fi and “expert staff recommendations.”

However, the library is canceling its programs, tours and public meeting room use through April 10.

Friends of the Library Bookstore will be closed through March 28, while the Webster County Genealogical Society and the Fort Dodge Historical Society will be closed through March 31.

The Fort Dodge Parks and Recreation Department will also be adhering to CDC guidelines on mass gatherings and has postponed all youth soccer and adult volleyball programs through March 22.

Citizens Central is closed to the public and all non-essential activities, programs and rentals have been canceled. Essential programs coordinated out of Citizens Central like congregate meals and tax appointments will be kept with some modifications.

For congregate meals, any registered participant will be able to pick up a meal between 11:30 a.m. and noon through a temporary drive-through in the back alley on the south side of the building.

Tax appointments will still be available using recommended social distancing practices, according to the city. The front door on the north side of the building will be the only access to the building and only one client will be allowed in the building at a time.

The Foster Grandparent program will be following school closures and will receive weekly updates as the situation changes.

Programs, art classes and events at the Blanden Memorial Art Museum have been canceled through March 28.

Fort Dodge Recreation Center

Most regular programming, such as Kids Care and fitness classes, have been suspended until further notice, according to Executive Director Dave Pearson. Higher traffic areas such as the sauna and steam room have been closed, and birthday parties and day passes have also been canceled as the center attempts isolation measures without completely closing.

The executive director said that they’re doing “abundantly more” with disinfecting items like pads, mats, and other high-traffic items that are touched by many.

The gymnasium and basketball court will only be open from 5 a.m. to noon each day. The facility will close at 7 p.m., two hours early each night, to thoroughly clean and sanitize the facility each night.

“The health and safety of our members is obviously a top priority to us,” Pearson said.

As of Monday afternoon, the Rec Center said it would limit the amount of people in a facility to 50 at a time, citing CDC recommendations. Just before that policy was formed, the CDC changed the number in that recommendation to 10.

“It’s tough; it’s changing hour to hour,” Pearson said. “This is something we might have to change.”

The facility is working to ensure that employees who are not feeling well will still be able to collect their paycheck, incentivizing those who are sick to stay home.

Total closure remains on the table as a last resort for the Rec Center.

“We’re trying other measures,” he said, “but we could be completely forced to do something we’re not wanting to do.”

Funeral homes

Area funeral homes are also responding to the COVID-19 virus risks.

On Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services’ website, they have a specific page for coronavirus notices.

“We offer live streaming services, if travel or other concerns prevent anyone from being able to attend services,” the notice says.

As the situation surrounding the virus is changing rapidly, Phil Gunderson said, the funeral home is trying to lessen the disruption to families using their services.

“We will continue to closely monitor the situation and take actions necessary to help keep our staff and our community safe while providing the services you need during this difficult time,” the notice says.

On Sunday, the Iowa Funeral Directors Association released guidance recommending limiting funerals to up to 50 in attendance for all services.

At the Historic Bruce Funeral Home, owner Jamie Brundage is trying to stay ahead of the curve with the COVID-19 risks.

“I have had some emails from some local nursing homes. They’ll have protocol for how we now enter the buildings; we’ll be screened by a nurse before entering,” Brundage said.

One advantage for families who choose cremation, Brundage said, is being able to schedule a service for a later date.

Susie McDonald, a funeral director at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home and Cremation Services, said the funeral home is following the guidance from the IFDA in limiting visitation and service crowds to 50 people at a time and will have door greeters.

So far, families have been “very understanding” about the extra precautions, McDonald said.

All three funeral homes said they were providing hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes for their services and visitations.

Shelters

As the risk of community exposure to COVID-19 is now present in Iowa, the Lotus Community Project, which is an emergency shelter for women and children in need, is not accepting volunteers at this time, executive director Ashley Vaala said.

“We’re limiting volunteers and tour groups that I do,” she said. “I’ve had some presentations that I was going to do that have been canceled. We’re just following the way of the community as places are closing down and whatnot.”

The shelter’s food supply, supported by the Food Bank of Iowa, is unaffected so far, Vaala said.

“We’re just using the general healthy standards, washing our hands and everything,” she added.

As of right now, the shelter doesn’t have any school-aged children staying there, so the school closures are not currently affecting the Lotus House.

Beacon of Hope men’s shelter in Fort Dodge is also stepping up its hygiene game with extra hand washing and providing hand sanitizer to the residents.

The COVID-19 outbreak, although there have not yet been any confirmed cases in Webster County, has affected the shelter’s meal program because some volunteers have become nervous about coming to the shelter.

“A huge part of our ministry is the community serving the meals for our guys in the evening,” said Director Steve Roe. “If people are uncomfortable coming in, we would ask them to still prepare a meal, but to just drop it off if they’re worried about coming in.”

Roe noted that just by the nature of the shelter, it is hard for them to isolate residents if they’re exposed to the virus.

“If we get hit and they get really sick, it could be a pretty huge problem,” he said. “But we’re just trying to take any precaution we can.”

Hotels

Some local hotels reported a steep decline in occupancy and a spike in cancellations following the cancellation of sporting events in Fort Dodge that typically bring in traffic. Many hotels and travel companies have relaxed cancellation policies, particularly on reservations that would otherwise not be refundable.

“If anything, we’re dead,” said employee Taralynn Johnson on the level of traffic at Country Inn and Suites. “Usually we’re pretty booked because we’ve got events going on. … I’ve seen a lot of cancellations because of the coronavirus; people are afraid to go out.”

The Country Inn and Suites, AmericInn and Sleep Inn and Suites in Fort Dodge said they’ve all ramped up sanitization procedures, paying acute attention to items touched more frequently. Sick employees are told to stay at home.

“We’ve had some cancellations and a slow down,” said Trisha Grove, manager of AmericInn.

Most hotel employees said little guidance about what to expect next had come to local branches from the corporate level.

“They haven’t said anything to us,” Johnson said. “People are worried that if we’re shut down, we might be out of the job.”

No hotels reported any significant changes to delivery of services, such as breakfast.

“We’re doing pretty good,” said Rita Carlson, general manager of Sleep Inn and Suites. “We’re staying busy right now, but any day that could change.”

Schools

Gov. Kim Reynolds recommended Sunday that all schools in Iowa close for four weeks, leaving local schools scrambling with a new message to send out just before spring break.

While local schools are closed to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, districts are stepping up to make sure their students don’t go hungry during this time.

St. Edmond has canceled classes until April 13, as have several area schools.

Humboldt Community Schools announced on its social media pages and website that the district will provide free meals for all children under the age of 18 starting today. The grab-and-go breakfast and lunch meals can be picked up at the Taft Elementary School entryway between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m.

The Humboldt district will also deliver meals to students that do not have access to transportation. Those families can call (515) 332-3216 and leave a message at extension 6429.

Beginning on Monday, March 23, the Algona Community School District will provide meals for families who are interested during the school closure, the district announced on its Facebook page on Monday morning.

Delivery is available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. To order meals, fill out the form at forms.gle/VSWGuapjx3ds24yb9.

Other schools, businesses and organizations who are supporting families with school children who face food insecurities during this time of school closures can email kwingert@messengernews.net or call (515) 573-2141 and The Messenger can help spread that news.

Catholic churches

The Diocese of Sioux City has suspended Masses, effective immediately, and continuing for eight weeks. The suspension includes Holy Week Masses, according to an announcement from the diocese.

”This has been the most difficult decision I have made during my time as bishop,” said Bishop Walker Nickless. ”The health and well being of all people in the diocese, as well as all Catholics, is of the utmost importance at this time. I ask all the faithful for their understanding and to join me in prayer for the end to this public health crisis.”

Fort Dodge

Correctional Facility

All prisons under the Iowa Department of Corrections, including Fort Dodge Correctional Facility, have barred visitation until further notice “out of an abundance of caution for the department’s vulnerable population,” a Saturday press release from the IDOC said.

To mitigate the potential impact on “institution morale,” the DOC said it’s exploring the option of providing reduced-cost or free phone calls, reduced-cost e-mail and video visitation.

“Our staff are taking every precaution within our power to ensure that the prisons are ready to prevent and respond to the introduction of COVID-19,” said Dr. Beth Skinner. “We are working closely with all relevant state agencies … to ensure that we’re taking every step we can to minimize the impact that the virus will have on our population.”