Over 150 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Webster County since July 10, according to Webster County Public Health.

It wasn’t clear as of Friday night how many of the new cases have come from the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility, which experienced a spike in cases during the past week.

Kelli Bloomquist, public information officer for WCPH, reported that testing took place again at the prison on Wednesday. She said those test results are starting to come back and some are included in the numbers presented in this story.

Since the beginning of the pandemic in March, 496 total COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Webster County. Over 200 of those cases have been attributed to the prison (16 staff and 187 inmates).

The number of people who have been released from public health isolation and are considered recovered is 265.

Almost 65% of cases have come from people experiencing symptoms.

The age breakdown of cumulative positive cases is as follows: 25 children (0-17), 256 adults (18-40), 144 middle aged adults (41-60), 61 older adults (61-80), and 10 elderly (81+).

Webster County Public Health continues to advise residents to follow public health guidance including washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, using hand sanitizer, sanitizing heavily touched areas, covering coughs and sneezes, wearing a mask when social distancing isn’t possible, and staying home if you are sick or if you aren’t sure if your symptoms can be attributed to allergies or are COVID-19 related.

Those with COVID-19 potential symptoms such as cough, fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, are sick to your stomach or have a poor appetite, or sudden loss of taste or smell, are urged to call their medical provider.

Your provider may request that you are tested or may ask that you wait to be tested.

Testing done when you start to feel sick is the best way to pick up enough virus to give an accurate test result. Testing before you have symptoms may result in a negative test and can give a false sense of security.

Please call your medical provider and do not just show up as all providers are taking COVID-specific precautions.

The COVID-19 hotline is available via telephone 515-227-7153 and email at WebCoCOVID@webstercountyia.org.