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News and resources regarding COVID-19

Hospitalizations on the Rise in Siouxland; Sioux County Hospital Officials Ask for Mask Mandate

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The number of hospitalizations continue to climb in Siouxland, as health officials in Sioux County ask for a mask mandate to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

On Sunday, Siouxland District Health reported 41 hospitalizations due to complications of COVID-19 at Sioux City’s two hospitals.  There are eleven more also battling a combination of medical issues for 52 patients in all.  That is 21 more in two weeks time.   

Credit Siouxland District Health Department

The Siouxland District Health Department also recorded another death in Woodbury County on Saturday for a total of 64 since the start of the pandemic.

On Friday, Siouxland Public Media reported the local health department was seeing comparable new infections as the spring.  In a weekly trend report, they attributed the current situation to “choices individuals are now making.”

Iowa’s coronavirus website shows a steady increase of patients battling COVID-19.  In Region 3, that includes Siouxland, there are 89 COVID-19 patients.  Twenty are on a ventilator.

The hardest hit spot in the state is Sioux County, with a 14-day test positivity rate of 32.5% on Sunday. That is slightly down from the day before.  Anything above a rate of 15% is one criteria set by state officials to allow a school district to apply for on-line learning only.

Meanwhile, hospitals in Sioux County are seeing a strain due to the illness.  They urged schools in the county to adopt or continue measures to help slow the spread of the virus.

They say patients who would normally be transferred to Sioux Falls or Sioux City are being cared for locally due to increased demand.  They are having issues due to staffing because some employees are in quarantine.

However, they do feel confident COVID-19 patients can receive the care they need locally.  The hospital leaders are pushing for a mask mandate and to continue social distancing.

Siouxland Public Media contacted both Sioux City hospitals about the increase in patients.  On Friday they released a joint statement that said, “MercyOne Siouxland and UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s are continuing to manage the increase in patients while ensuring we provide the safest care environment to meet the health care needs of our communities. Additionally, we still have the ability to flex to 150% of our normal capacity.

Social media posty by Community Health Partners (Health Department for Sioux County, IA)
 
Submitted by Hawarden Regional Healthcare, Hegg Health Center, Orange City Area Health System, Sioux Center Health

Sioux County healthcare and education leaders meet to discuss COVID-19

Hospital administrators issue a number of “asks” to help slow community spread

On September 25, administrators from the four Sioux County health systems met with leaders from each of the county schools and colleges via a Zoom call to discuss the current status of the coronavirus outbreak in the region. Sioux County is currently experiencing a COVID-19 “positivity rate” of 30 percent, higher than any other county in Iowa. Positivity is the percent of people who test positive among those tested for COVID-19.

The meeting was called to provide educators information regarding the status of hospitalizations in the county and the region, and to urge the schools to adopt or continue to maintain measures to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

Each of the four Sioux County hospitals – Hawarden Regional Healthcare, Hegg Health Center, Sioux Center Health, and OCAHS – are currently caring for COVID-positive inpatients. Some of the more acute patients who would typically be transferred to larger hospitals (in Sioux Falls and Sioux City) are being cared for locally due to increased demand. Sioux Falls-area hospitals have assured Sioux County health systems that they continue to accept critical COVID-19 patients, and it is well within their ability to do so. In addition, each of the county health systems is experiencing some level of staffing challenges because of employees being quarantined.

While the county health system administrators expressed confidence that the majority of COVID patients can receive the care they need in their local hospitals, they are asking for county schools and colleges to help slow the spread of the virus during this outbreak. The specific “asks” include:

1. Mandate facial coverings/masks at every possible level to help reduce the viral load/spread

2. Maintain recommended physical distancing protocols in all indoor facilities

3. Continue to promote hand hygiene, and measures to sanitize/clean surfaces

Education leaders were also asked to adhere to public health guidelines, and to set a good example in their communities.

Hospital administrators affirmed that close contact during indoor activities presents the highest risk for spread of the virus. While that has always been the case – and public health guidelines have, for some time, included the use of face masks and social distancing – the current capacity situation in county and regional hospitals calls for a more urgent response.

State epidemiologists have looked at the positivity rate of COVID-19 cases in Sioux County and have not identified a specific source for the outbreak. To help slow “community spread,” healthcare leaders are not only urging schools to enact measures including masks and physical distancing, but all churches, businesses, residents, and visitors in the county to observe them as well – with the ultimate goal to protect those most vulnerable to becoming ill and requiring hospitalization.

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