The Webster County Health Department reported on Friday that there have been 124 positive COVID-19 tests in the past seven days.

The county’s positivity rate is at 10%, which is an increase of 2% from the state’s last update.

According to Kelli Bloomquist, WCHD public information officer, the virus continues to spread throughout the Webster County communities.

“COVID-19 continues to spread throughout our communities,” Bloomquist said. “Delta variant community transmission is high. This means that if you aren’t feeling well and go to work or to school or to an event and aren’t masked or socially distanced that you may spread COVID-19 to those around you. We continue to ask residents to stay home if you’re sick — even just a little sick — until you know for certain that you don’t have COVID.”

WCHD is continuing to urge unvaccinated residents to get vaccinated.

“We continue to ask residents to get vaccinated,” Bloomquist said. “Vaccines are safe and effective. Those who are vaccinated who have had breakthrough infections are much less sick and much less likely to be hospitalized or to die of COVID-19. Please get vaccinated.”

On Friday, Bloomquist also provided updates on the availability of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, plans for future booster clinics and testing locations for COVID-19.

∫ Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be available for Iowa public health departments to order next week. When WCHD has J&J in stock, it will let the public know so appointments can be scheduled. Boosters for J&J are also being discussed by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices currently. When WCHD has guidance on this, it will let the public know.

∫ WCHD is currently planning for future booster clinics. Current guidance is that boosters will be available eight months after the individual’s second dose. The department is in the process of planning drive-thru booster clinics to begin in October.

∫ Vaccination clinics will continue to be held every Tuesday and Friday afternoon throughout September. The schedule is anticipated to change in October. Please call 515-573-4107 to schedule an appointment. Vaccinations continue to be available at Daniel Pharmacy, UnityPoint-Health, Community Health Center, Iowa Specialty Clinic, HyVee Pharmacy, CVS, and Walgreens

∫ COVID-19 testing continues to be available at Community Health Center of Fort Dodge, UnityPoint Health, and Iowa Specialty Clinic. Please speak with your primary care provider and call ahead for an appointment.

∫ The WCHD COVID hotline remains operational. Call volume is increasing. Residents are encouraged to call the hotline with any questions or concerns that they might have. Trained staff and nurses monitor the hotline seven days a week. The hotline number is 515-227-7153.

∫ If a resident is traveling and needs a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours, the Iowa Department of Public Health at-home PCR test kits which are available at WCHD have the potential to be returned within the necessary time period.

According to the Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory, once the kit is dropped in a UPS drop box, it takes about one day to get to the lab.

The lab is currently processing at-home test kits within 24-48 hours. All tests results are then e-mailed directly to the individual patient. These at-home kits are available at WCHD’s front desk during normal business hours (8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday). This is another option in Webster County as clinics are currently seeing a high volume of testing for symptomatic, asymptomatic, worried well, and individuals traveling.