Mills County Emergency Management Agency Public Information Officer Nick Johnson, Friday (today), reports “To date, Mills County has 712 positive cases on record. There are 333 recovered cases leaving 53% of [the] total positive cases currently under isolation guidance.” Johnson says “Our 14-day rolling positivity rate is now at 25.4%. Mills County Public Health (MCPH) is receiving emergency assistance with contact tracing from the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH). IDPH is conducting contact tracing on all community-based cases and is only able to contact trace with immediate family members of a positive case due to the surge in cases across the state. MCPH is continuing to contact trace all positive cases within the schools and long-term care facilities.”

Johnson adds, “We continue to work with our partners to slow the spread of COVID-19 but everyone in Mills County has a large part in making this happen. Anyone of any age can get the disease. If you have been exposed to COVID-19, it is important to stay home for 14 days, self-isolate and monitor for symptoms to slow the spread of the disease. People who are infected with COVID-19 can give it to others, even when they do not show symptoms. Others with COVID-19 only show mild symptoms while some experience severe illness.”

Symptoms include, but are not limited to:
✓ Cough
✓ Fever
✓ Chills
✓ Sore throat
✓ Shortness of breath
✓ Headache
✓ Muscle pain
✓ Loss of taste and/or smell
✓ Stomachache, vomiting, and/or diarrhea (though less often)

Get tested if you have symptoms. Go online to TESTIOWA, call you doctor, or MCPH about getting tested. MCPH is available to answer your questions or discuss your symptoms by calling (712) 527-9699. Protect yourself and your community from COVID-19 by doing the following:
✓ Stay 6 feet away from other people when you leave your home.
✓ Wear a facemask or cloth face cover when you go anywhere.
✓ Stay home when you are sick.
✓ Wash your hands often.
✓ Cover your cough.
✓ Clean and disinfect surfaces and things that are touched a lot.

For further statistical data available, in near real time, visit the Iowa Coronavirus webpage at:
https://coronavirus.iowa.gov