State of Iowa announces new Test Iowa locations as testing criteria expands

Fri, 05/22/2020 – 12:00

Schedule can be found on coronavirus.iowa.gov. 

Today, the Office of Governor Kim Reynolds announced new Test Iowa locations will open next week in Marshalltown, Sioux Center, and Council Bluffs.

A schedule of sites, locations and times can be found below or on coronavirus.iowa.gov.

Test Iowa is a statewide initiative to expand COVID-19 testing. Testing criteria now allows any Iowan to be tested, regardless of symptoms or potential exposure to the virus. To be tested, Iowans must first complete an assessment at www.testiowa.com and schedule an appointment at a test site.

Test Iowa’s mobile testing model makes it possible to quickly operationalize a temporary test site in a community where virus activity is increasing or access to testing is limited. Testing is rapidly scaled up to identify positive cases, conduct contact tracing, and determine scope of the virus in the community. Over time when test volume decreases, sites are moved to other communities where there is a need.

The Test Iowa site currently in Sioux City will close when testing concludes at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 22. The site opened on May 4. Testing remains in Sioux City through local health care providers as well as the new Test Iowa Site in Sioux Center.

Test Iowa Sites/Schedule

Call Test Iowa with questions about testing: 515-575-2131 or 844-844-1561 (toll free)
Lines are open 8am – 8pm 7 days a week (except Holidays)

**** Please Note, There are two Half-Staff Events ****

1. President Trump orders flags to fly at half-staff to honor CoronaVirus victims

“I will be lowering the flags on all Federal Buildings and National Monuments to half-staff over the next three days in memory of the Americans we have lost to the CoronaVirus,” the President tweeted the evening of Thursday, May 22nd

^{*** Flags should be at Half-Staff Immediately for the Next Three Days per the President’s Tweet.}    

2. Memorial Day United States Flag Display

Memorial Day, which is observed on the last Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died while in the military service.  In observance of Memorial Day, fly the United States flag at half staff from sunrise until NOON , and then raise it to full height from noon to sundown.

United States Flag Code

Section 7.M

The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then slowly lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff.
Click here to see the entire US Flag Code….

*** Flags should be at Half-Staff From Sunrise Until Noon on Monday, May 25th.

Effigy Mounds National Monument Trails Re-open Friday, May 22, 2020

[Harpers Ferry, IA] Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state and local public health authorities, Effigy Mounds National Monument is increasing recreational access, re-opening the park’s hiking trails beginning at 6:00am Friday, May 22, 2020. The National Park Service is working with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to gradually increase access on a park-by-park basis.

With public health in mind, the Effigy Mounds National Monument Visitor Center and other facilities will remain closed. Visitors are advised to come to the monument self-contained with enough water and food for safe hiking. Social distancing is highly recommended, and the public should be aware that on the North Unit trail system as well as the Yellow River boardwalks it is not always possible to maintain the recommended 6’ of social distancing, particularly when groups are moving in opposite directions along narrow, steep trail segments. Visitors are advised to seek out hiking times when visitation is low and avoid hiking during the busy afternoon hours of 1:00pm – 3:00pm if possible. Trails at Effigy Mounds National Monument are open daily from dawn to dusk.

Effigy Mounds National Monument managers are working with local, regional, and national leadership to monitor the situation and will provide updates on the park website at www.nps.gov/efmo and Facebook page whenever there are changes to the status of Effigy Mounds National Monument trails and Visitor Center operations.

The Calmar American Legion will be doing its cemetery salutes as usual on Monday May 25th, 2020 morning.  The school program is cancelled.

Corps welcomes 101 days of summer with a water safety message

1. PAUL, Minn. –The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is welcoming the 101 days of summer with a reminder for everyone to play it safe while on the water and to always wear a life jacket.

The 101 days of summer starts with Memorial Day Weekend and goes through Labor Day. Corps staff are reminding everyone to understand the value of wearing a life jacket. According to the National Safety Council, drowning caused 3,709 deaths in 2017. With the start of the summer recreation season upon us, let’s do our part to reduce these preventable deaths.

“As we wrap up National Safe Boating Week and look toward the summer, I want everyone to think about the importance of being smart while on the water,” said Randy Urich, St. Paul District recreation and natural resources chief. “With everything going on right now, it’s easy to get distracted, but the key is to remember that life jackets save lives. Your friends and family are counting on you coming home after being on the water so please play it safe and wear your life jacket.”

Before casting off for a day on the water, Corps staff recommend everyone should always wearing a life jacket, avoid consuming too much alcohol, let a friend or family member know where you are going and how long you plan to be gone, keep an eye on the weather and take a boating safety course.

In addition to remembering to being smart on the water, boaters should also practice good social distancing to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19.

For more information on our water safety program, please visit https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Recreation/Water-Safety/  or https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Recreation/National-Water-Safety_Program/

May 19, 2020

CONTACT:  Erin Berns at Veterans Memorial Hospital  568-3411

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hospital Laboratory Takes Measures When Re-Opening Waiting Room to Ensure Safety of Those Needing Regular Testing

The Veterans Memorial Hospital strives to provide the safest health care experience with compassion for all patients.  During COVID-19, the hospital has gone to even greater measures to ensure a safe environment for all patients, with the following requirements:

• Daily health screenings of employees, patients and visitors.
• Face masks required for all employees, patients and visitors.
• Physical distancing required in waiting rooms.
• Visitation limited to only essential visitors.
• Pre-procedure COVID –19 testing required prior to having a procedure at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
• More time scheduled between patients for proper, effective and thorough sanitizing.

The hospital’s Laboratory does see many repeat patients on a regular basis.  Since the onset of COVID-19, many of those patients have stayed in their cars while Laboratory personnel have come outside to draw their blood.  The Lab patients are now given the choice to enter the Lab waiting room to wait for their blood draw, or continue to wait in their car until the Lab waiting room is open.  If they still choose to wait in their vehicles, they must call the Lab at 563-568-5594 when they arrive to the hospital.  The Lab staff will meet them at the door and escort them inside the building, first to the screener and then directly to the Lab waiting room.

All appointments for Laboratory should be pre-scheduled.  Please call the Lab at 563-568-5594 before the next visit to Veterans Memorial Hospital to schedule an appointment.

For questions or concerns, please call Beth Fitzpatrick, Lab Supervisor at 563-568-5594.

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May 19, 2020

CONTACT:  Erin Berns at Veterans Memorial Hospital  568-3411

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hospital Requests More Masks Needed in Hospital and Community

Veterans Memorial Hospital continues to be appreciative of the outpouring of community support and interest in making and donating face masks for patients and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Hospital is encouraging those that have been sewing for the hospital to please continue to do so.  In fact, with the reopening of some elective procedures, the hospital is requesting more donations of masks, if possible.

The hospital staff remains concerned and committed to the community and encourages face mask use by everyone, especially the elderly and immune-compromised, to help them stay safe when they have to leave their homes.

For this reason, the hospital is also still encouraging face masks to be donated to the area communities.  The Waukon Economic Development, Lansing City Clerk Office, Postville City Clerk Office and Monona Chamber of Commerce are all accepting homemade masks and supplying them to the grocery stores in their communities.  These masks are then being handed out to each qualifying customer to have and wear to enter the public places they need to go.

The masks are reusable and the shopper should keep and launder the mask for reuse on each shopping visit.  With the limited supply, it is asked that those receiving the masks be sure to keep the same one for reuse and not take a new one each time they enter a store.

Masks can be dropped off at the following locations:

• Waukon Chamber of Commerce/Economic Development Office (place in tote at front door between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. M-F)
• Lansing City Office (place in tote at front door between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. M-F)
• Postville City Office (Place in tote in front of police station door anytime)
• Monona Chamber of Commerce (place in drop off slot in front door anytime)

Please put any homemade masks in a bag and leave at one of these locations.  Masks will then be distributed as needed to the stores.

For more information, please call Erin Berns, Public Relations, at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.

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CAPTION:  Veterans Memorial Hospital continues to be appreciative of the outpouring of community support in making and donating masks for patients and staff during this pandemic.  With the reopening of some elective procedures, the hospital is requesting more donations of masks, if possible.  Pictured is some hospital staff members wearing some of handmade masks that a have been sewn and donated to the hospital by many talented individuals in the community.  These masks are very effective in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19.  Mask donations are also being accepted at these city locations of Waukon Economic Development, Lansing City Clerk Office, Postville City Clerk Office and Monona Chamber of Commerce and will be given to the elderly and immune-compromised to use every time they must leave home.

May 19, 2020

CONTACT:  Erin Berns at 568-3411

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Need for Blood Does Not Stop During COVID-19

The local blood drives continue to be held during COVID-19 since the need for blood is in more demand than ever.  Life Serve team members only report to work if they are healthy and only healthy donors are eligible to give blood.   Blood drives are essential medical services and not considered mass gatherings. The number of donors is limited to ensure donor separation and staff has strict cleaning and disinfection schedules. Other measures are also in place to ensure the safety of the blood supply so these lifesaving donations can continue during COVID-19.

The next blood drive will be held on Monday, June 1, from Noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

Donating blood is safe, simple and it saves lives.  Blood donors have a unique opportunity to contribute to their community by making a life-saving blood donation.  Everyone who registers to donate blood goes through four simple steps during the donation process:  registration, donor history and mini-physical, blood donation and snacks.

New blood donors who are not familiar with the blood donation process are encouraged to ask questions before, during and after their blood donation.  Below are a few tips for ensuring a successful donation:

• Get a good night’s sleep before your blood donation.
• Eat a good meal before donating blood. Do not donate on an empty stomach.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Bring a photo ID or Blood Donor ID Card to your appointment.
• If you are 16 or 17 years old and you’ve never donated blood with LifeServe Blood Center, be sure to get a signed Parental/Guardian Permission Form.

LifeServe Blood Center is one of the 15^th largest blood centers in the country, and provides blood and blood products to more than 90 hospitals located across Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota.  This includes Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.  LifeServe is committed to saving lives by providing premier service to volunteer blood donors and access to a safe, quality blood supply for hospitals and patients.

For more information or to schedule an appointment to donate blood at the next Waukon blood drive on Monday, June 1, from Noon to 5:00 p.m., please call 800-287-4903.

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Gundersen eases hospital visitor guidelines

As Gundersen Health System continues its safe, careful approach to resuming in-person procedures and appointments, new Hospital visitor guidelines reflect these changes. (Guidelines may differ for select Gundersen Critical Access Hospital locations.)

Gundersen Hospital Visitor Guidelines

• Adult patients will be allowed one (1) visitor over the age of 18 per 24-hour period.
• Nursery, Pediatric and Pediatric/Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PNICU) patients may have one (1) support person, not to exceed two different people in 24 hours.
• Exceptions are available for end-of-life care, interpreter/communication needs and Labor and Delivery.

All Gundersen Locations

Gundersen continues to have multiple touchpoints to ensure the health and safety of patients, visitors, and staff. These policies continue to be in line with other state and national guidelines to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Visit our COVID-19 page for more information.

• Patients, support people and visitors must bring and wear a cloth face covering. These are needed for everyone, including Gundersen staff.
• Everyone entering a Gundersen facility will be asked if they are experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 and have their temperature taken. (Symptoms include temperature of 100.0 F, new cough, shortness of breath or unexplained body aches.)
• All patients and visitors should allow at least six feet between themselves and other patients and visitors, even when wearing a face covering.
• No visitors are allowed who have had a diagnosis of COVID-19 in the last 14 days, and visitors are not allowed to visit patients being treated for COVID-19.
• Primary support people, visitors and healthcare decision makers who are currently experiencing or experienced any COVID-19 symptoms within the last 14 days, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath, are not permitted.

Entrances to Gundersen locations will continue to be limited to ensure appropriate patient and visitor screening.

Visitor guidelines regarding Gundersen Clinics, Emergency Services, Surgery and Outpatient Surgery Center are also being reviewed. Any changes will be shared once they are finalized.

Gundersen continuously evaluates visitor guidelines and may update them as the COVID-19 response continues to evolve locally, regionally, and nationally.