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News and resources regarding COVID-19

No COVID-19 Cases Yet in Woodbury County; Concern about Shortage of Tests

 Health care providers are likely going to tell patients who are displaying mild symptoms of COVID-19 that they don't need to be tested for the virus, Siouxland District Health Department Deputy Director Tyler Brock said Wednesday morning during a news conference at the Security Institute on Western Iowa Tech Community College's campus.

According to Brock, testing for the novel coronavirus has been and is being performed in Woodbury County. So far, there have been no cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the county.

"We're hearing the frustration about testing availability from the public, as well as from the medical providers who are struggling with requests from their patients and the uncertainties that are associated with testing," Brock said. "We understand the demand for testing. Nobody wants more quality and accurate and available testing than Siouxland District Health Department does."

Brock said testing supplies are "trickling in" to hospitals and clinics and that their focus is getting the people tested that need it the most.

"We all have to remember that this is literally a situation where everyone in the world wants a particular service at the exact same time. Testing supplies, as well as laboratory personnel, are not unlimited," he said. 

Brock said he could not say how many testing kits hospitals and clinics have or how many people have been tested for COVID-19 in Woodbury County, because testing is being conducted at multiple laboratories. 

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