O’Brien County, Iowa — (OCBTC) — Between the physical health of the O’Brien County public and the economic health of the same public as well as the county and each of the taxing districts within, concern over moving forward under the constant presence of a viral threat is always a topic at the O’Brien County Supervisors.
To date, O’Brien County can boast pretty low infection numbers. The disease was slow arriving to O’Brien County. When it did, it was gentle. Three cases were reported in April and all quarantined at home and are classified as recovered. However, four new cases have been confirmed within the last week. All are quarantining at home.
O’Brien County Emergency Management Coordinator Jared Johnson reported, “We are seeing more community spread in northwest Iowa and neighboring states.” Even so, O’Brien is on of Iowa’s 77 counties set to “reopen” May 1.
He was questioned about the court house and recommends that it continue its operations as it has since mid-March: closed to the public, but doing business via mail, phone and online. May 15 is the stated date to reevaluate the viral environment of O’Brien County COVID-19 cases and the presence of the illness in surrounding counties.
Dan Friedrichsen asked how long, following that with at some point everyone will be exposed and [perhaps] develop a “herd-immunity” adding that he thought that to be at about 80%.
Johnson explained “Test Iowa” locations were being set up around the state and one is being sited now in Woodbury. He continued with his explanation that testing will help determine opening. Johnson expressed one of the biggest concerns of the public health world opening too soon by explaining the most recent confirmations that community spread is often done by people who are asymptomatic, those who have no symptoms.
That was the experience of a Typhoid epidemic in the early days of this nation, a contagious carrier who had no symptoms and no knowledge she was infecting others. She became known as “Typhoid Mary.”
Johnson agreed that reopening will have to happen at some point. For now he recommends staying home if possible, but for those who either must or who choose activities in the public: grocery shopping, attending religious service or other, to wear a mask and keep a minimum of 6 feet of separation from all other people. Wash hands thoroughly and frequently. He said, “This is a complex disaster we can’t see.”
Discussion about the installation of Plexiglas dividers between county staff and the public were held along with PPE supplies. Johnson reported that N95 masks that had been ordered didn’t get out of China. He also explained that the PPE received from the National Stockpile is limited to use by health agencies, when asked about making it available to businesses looking to reopen. Businesses are generally on their own as far as PPE goes, and added, “Amazon looks like their able to get some out.”
Story courtesy of our News Partner the O’Brien County Bell-Times-Courier
