COVID-19 Updates

posted on Thursday, February 18, 2021

We're starting to see virus numbers steadily decrease - locally, nationally, and globally. For now, it appears things are getting better! Sources believe a combination of vaccinations, mask wearing, social distancing, avoiding crowds, and increased hand washing has the potential to sustain the recent progress.

While this is long-awaited news, we still have a ways to go. It will continue to take all of us working together and consistently employing these precautions to finally put an end to this pandemic.

Virus News

No Change to EPI Procedures - No change to procedures now or planned in the near future. Masks, social distancing, hand washing, limited visitors, etc. still required.

• Regardless of what may be in the news, we will continue to follow CDC and IDPH guidance.
• EPI's current precautions are still recommended after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. 

Improve How Your Mask Protects You - The CDC recently published new information regarding mask wearing - take a look at the dos and don'ts.

• Correct and consistent mask use is a critical step everyone can take to prevent getting and spreading COVID-19.
• Masks work best when everyone wears them, but not all masks provide the same protection.
• When choosing a mask, look at how well it fits, how well it filters the air, and how many layers it has.
• When referencing layers of material, the CDC gave two options 1) a cloth mask with multiple layers or 2) wear a disposable face mask UNDER a cloth mask as the second will push the edges of the inner mask against your face. When doing so, make sure you can see and breathe easily.  

Vaccine News

Persons Served Vaccination Clinics - Ready While Waiting for Vaccination Allocation

• We continue to proactively gain all of the approvals needed for when vaccines are allocated for the people we serve.
• We are ready! Once we get the green light for this clinic from Black Hawk County Public Health we'll communicate next steps from location, date, and time, to what can be expected. Stay tuned! We are actively working to secure these details.
• Black Hawk County Public Health has communicated they are currently working through vaccination phase 1B in the priority order set by the Iowa Department of Public Health (see the following chart).
  
  

Learn More About the Vaccine - Please take some time to learn about the COVID-19 vaccine from fact-based sources such as FDA and CDC.

• Vaccine fact sheets from the FDA: Pfizer and Moderna.
• Frequently Asked Questions from the CDC
• Discuss with your healthcare professional

Thank you for your continued efforts to slow the spread of this virus.