Atlantic, IA — Cass County Health System (CCHS) officials reported today that preparations for possible COVID-19 cases continue on a daily basis. “While we have not had any COVID-19 cases identified in Cass County, we are working diligently to prepare for likely cases any day now,” said CCHS CEO Brett Altman. As of 5:00 pm on March 26, 2020, CCHS reports that there have been 29 people tested, with 20 negative results, while 9 results are still pending.

“We have learned from other rural counties that when they get their first case, people begin to speculate and social media blows up. We ask people to abstain from such speculation and rumors. We are doing our best to keep our community informed with good, reliable information as soon as it is available. Sharing misinformation or unfounded comments, whether in person or on social media, further confuses the community and adds to people’s fears and anxieties,” said CCHS Public Relations Coordinator Ann McCurdy.

CCHS employees are all trained and held accountable to HIPAA, which strictly protects patient privacy. “Just because someone works at CCHS doesn’t mean they know anything more than the public, and even if they did, they couldn’t tell you. While we can’t control and don’t respond to rumors, we are saying this now before we have a case in an attempt to mitigate rumors, questions, and speculations if and when we get our first case,” said McCurdy.

“If there is a positive test result, that announcement will be made in conjunction with Cass County Public Health and the Iowa Department of Public Health. Like we have seen across the state, those announcements will not include information about the patient in order to protect their privacy.”

(Radio Iowa) — Governor Kim Reynolds is ordering more businesses to close and adding another week to previous restrictions designed to limit the spread of COVID-19. In addition to bars, restaurants and hair salons that have already been closed, Reynolds has ordered more retail stores that sell things like books, clothes, flowers and furniture to close. All those business closures will now be in place through April 7th.

“We will continue to take additional steps, as necessary, to further protect the health of Iowans and our economy,” Reynolds says. The governor issued a public health emergency proclamation and ordered bars and restaurants closed at noon on March 17th. She added hair and nail salons and swimming pools to the closure list this week — with the closings to last through March 31st. The closures, by the governor’s decree, now extend through Tuesday, April 7th.

“I wanted to make sure that we were giving businesses enough notice and so that’s one of the reasons that we thought we would go ahead and just extend for another week beyond what I originally did,” Reynolds says. “But, everyday, I need Iowans and businesses to know that we’re reevaluating those metrics and seeing what they look like and talking about what we need to do next and that went into the decisions that we made.” The governor has also used her emergency authority to order the suspension of all elective surgeries and dental visits, unless it’s an emergency situation.

“These actions will help us preserve the personal protection equipment as well as our health care workforce,” Reynolds said. State officials reported 34 more cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in Iowa — for a total of 179 positive cases. “We haven’t actually made it through the first incubation period,” Reynolds says, “and so we haven’t even really been able to gather the data about the decisions that we made early on to see if we have started to bend the curve.” Reynolds says because of that, she cannot speculate on when the business closures she’s ordered will be lifted.

“We have said all along that basically we have put a lot of policies in place to protect our most vulnerable and make sure that we don’t see a surge on our health care system,” Reynolds says, “and that’s really what’s driven the decisions we’ve made.”

A case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been confirmed in Montgomery County. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), the individual is between 41-60 years of age who has recently traveled outside of the United States and is currently isolating at home. Although the virus is spreading throughout the state, residents should not assume the risk is any less because this is a travel-related case.

Montgomery County Public Health Administrator, Samantha Beeson says “While this is Montgomery County’s first case of COVID-19, it may not be the last, and that’s why we encourage all residents to adhere to guidelines and restrictions provided by IDPH and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).”

Those actions include:
• Washing your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds each time.
• Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow/upper arm.
• Staying home when ill.

Beeson said “As we see positive cases turn up, Montgomery County Public Health will continue to follow Iowa privacy laws while being as transparent as possible to the public. But because there is community spread of COVID-19, detailed tracing is no longer necessary, as we know the virus is circulating in the community and the risk of virus spread is the same for all community members, not just those in close contact with the person who tested positive.”

“Montgomery County Public Health’s general practice will be to not disclose specific towns or cities of where residents with confirmed positive tests reside. However, we will share as much information as we are legally able to,” Beeson added.

For up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit the Iowa Coronavirus webpage at https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/

Officials with the Pottawattamie County Department of Public Health, today (Thursday), confirmed a third presumptive positive case of COVID-19. The results are from a female resident of Council Bluffs, age 41-to 60, who has no pre-existing medical conditions, and HAS had recent travel on a cruise ship. The individual is currently self-isolating at home.

The woman returned from a cruise March 16th and chose to immediately self-quarantine at home. Health officials say there is therefor No Risk to the public. The second presumptive positive case (as previously mentioned) was a man 41-to 60 years of age, who is currently in stable condition at the UNMC.

Pott. County Public Health wants to make the following terms clear:

Monitoring: Monitoring for fever by taking temperature twice a day and remaining alert for respiratory symptoms (Cough, shortness of breath, sore throat).

Quarantine: Separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.

Isolation: Separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.

You are urged to continue practicing Social distancing efforts, along with vigilant excellent hygiene and disinfectant practices, every day.

(Radio Iowa) — A natural disaster like a tornado often brings out crooks promising to do home repairs on the cheap who promptly vanish with the downpayment. Coronavirus is no different. Pella’s interim police chief, Lieutenant Paul Haase, says they’ve taken multiple calls from people reporting scams and phishing attempts that all relate back to the pandemic.

“There has been reports of door-to-door testing and people offering to come to your door and test you for COVID-19 for a small fee,” Haase says. “A lot of these are just designed to get people to give out banking information, personal information.” Haase says the scammers can be very persistent.

“The people are very good at what they do. They’re manipulative. They’ll trick people,” Haase says. “Don’t send them any money. Call the police department and say, ‘Hey, can you walk me through this situation?'” A familiar scam involves a phone call from someone claiming to be a grandchild who’s in trouble and needs money in a hurry. Haase says it’s difficult to catch someone pulling that type of telephone scam and it’s almost impossible to get money back once you’ve sent it.

Haase says, “They prey on people that want to look out for their loved ones and will fool them into sending that money in by pressuring them to do it right now, before they have a chance to think about it.” The bottom line is to avoid anyone who asks for money, Haase says, and don’t give money to someone you haven’t contacted first.

Report suspected fraud by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721.

A woman from Red Oak was arrested at around 8:45-a.m. today (Thursday). Red Oak Police say 49-year old Shelby JoAnn Olivares was taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where her bond was set at $300.

The Cass County Treasurer’s and Recorders’ Offices report that effective tomorrow (Friday, March 27th), personnel with both offices will no longer meet customers on a face-to-face basis. There is a drop box outside the courthouse door (with instructions) for you to leave information or documents. For any specific needs or instructions, please call one of the respective offices:

Treasurer: 712-243-2975

Recorder: 712-243-1692.

(12-p.m. News)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests. Today (Thursday), 22-year old Emily Christine Garside, of Lewis, was arrested on a felony charge of Child Endangerment. Garside was released with a pending court date. On Tuesday, 43-year old Jason Richard Tasto, of Atlantic, was arrested for Violation of No Contact Order. Tasto was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.

Last Sunday, Cass County Deputies arrested 59-year old Daryl D Armstrong, of Anita, for Domestic Abuse/1st Offense. Armstrong was released with a pending court date. And, last Saturday, 20-year old Kadin Michael Schoenfeld, of Atlantic, was arrested for felony Eluding, and a serious misdemeanor charge of OWI 1st Offense. Schoenfeld was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) today (Thursday) said it has been notified of 34 additional positive cases of Iowans with COVID-19, for a total of 179 positive cases. There have been a total of 2,975 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs.

According to IDPH, the locations and age ranges of the 34 individuals include:

Appanoose County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
Black Hawk County, 1 middle-age adult (18-40 years)
Cedar County, 1 middle-age (18-40 years), 1 older (61-80 years), 1 elderly (81+)
Clayton County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
Des Moines County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
Jasper County, 1 elderly (81+)
Johnson County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 4 middle-aged adults (41-60 years), 1 older (61-80 years)
Linn County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 3 middle-aged adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Mahaska County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Monona County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Page County, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years)
Polk County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 2 middle-aged (41-60 years), 1 older (61-80 years)
Pottawattamie County, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years)
Scott County, 1 elderly, 3 middle-aged (41-60 years)
Sioux County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Washington County, 2 older adults (61-80 years)