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News and resources regarding COVID-19

9.18.20 News: Significant Increase of COVID-19 in Woodbury County and Beyond

Community Health Partners - Sioux County, IA

New cases of COVID-19 are on the rise in Siouxland, as local health officials say there is a significant increase in Woodbury County.

Siouxland District Health recorded 87 new infections in the past 24 hours.  A post on social media says the cases are not concentrated in any specific age or demographic.  Officials urge people do their part in preventing the spread of the virus.  Stay home when sick, even if only mildly ill, physical distance, wear masks in public, and wash hands frequently.

Dakota County Health officials recorded a bump in cases as well. After several days of new cases in the single digits, there were more than two dozen updated today.

Sioux County still has the highest positivity rate for new infections in the state.  The Iowa Department of Public Health reports the percentage of new positive tests during the past 14-days is more than 28%. More than half of the top ten counties come from northwest Iowa; including Sioux, Lyon, Plymouth, Osceola, Woodbury and Ida.  Woodbury stands at 14%.

Radio Iowa reports Community Health Partners, Sioux County’s public health agency, is very concerned about the positivity rate.  They are working with the Iowa Department of Public Health to try and figure out why the rate is so high.  Sioux County is experiencing community spread, but there isn’t enough information to show a specific outbreak. The county is home to three colleges; Dordt University in Sioux Center, Northwestern in Orange City and Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon.

Earlier this month, Dordt reported a high of 28 active cases of COVID-19 involving students.  Now, there are none.

Iowa recorded more than 900 new confirmed coronavirus cases and 14 deaths in the past 24 hours, as a federal report says the state has one of the nation’s highest infection rates.  More than 2,700 educators have tested positive for the virus.