Staying one step ahead of COVID-19

Staff at Regional Health Services of Howard County has been keeping a close eye on the virus as it spread around the world. On Thursday, March 12, the hospital organized an RHS COVID-19 Committee meeting.

With the quickly evolving atmosphere surrounding the virus, another meeting was called on Monday and Tuesday. Those invited included the schools, Kessel Kids, nursing homes, representatives from some of the larger businesses in Howard County, Howard County Emergency Management Director Darrell Knecht, Cresco Mayor Mark Bohle, the Sheriff and Cresco Police Departments and the entire Incident Command Team at RHS.

Hospital CEO/Administrator Robin Schluter said, “We have daily incident command meetings at 8:15 in the morning and the provider check  at noon and then the Community Meeting at 3 p.m.

“This is evolving as we go. The meeting is a great opportunity for community leaders to share information collaboratively to address the issues. Everyone is supporting everyone during this crisis. Preparedness pays off in the long run,” she added. 

Community leaders are doing what they can, and Schluter gave some advice to the general public. “People need to make good choices. Wash your hands. Stay home when you can. Disinfect your countertops. Call the clinic or hospital before you come in.”

Just a few of the groups and organizations taking safety precaution are listed below:

Hospital

RHSHC announced visitor restrictions effective March 16. Under those restrictions there will be no visitors under the age of 18; no visitors to patients in isolation; and only 1-2 visitors per patient in a 24 hour period. Those who do visit must check in when entering the hospital.

 

Nursing Homes

The Iowa Department of Public Health has advised long term care facilities to limit non-essential visitors to their facilities. 

• Evans Memorial Home and Cresco Assisted Living has restricted all non-essential visits. Family members are welcome to contact the building directly to make alternate communication plans. If a visit is deemed essential, guests will be screened upon entry. The hospital asked, “Please DO NOT bring extra visitors into the building. Please DO NOT visit if you have a fever or are not feeling well. We appreciate your utmost cooperation at this time.”

• Ted LeNeave, President and CEO of Accura HealthCare stated, “Nothing is more important to us than the safety and well-being of our residents, tenants, employees and their families. We have been and will continue to monitor and take appropriate action to meet and exceed guidelines for our state and national health departments including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

President Trump appeared on television Wednesday night advising nursing homes for the elderly to suspend all medically unnecessary visits.

“At Accura HealthCare, we are limiting visitors to only families and friends of hospice and critical or time sensitive resident needs. Please know that these are short term precautions to save families in the long run,” LeNeave continued.

The company has reviewed its infection prevention and control policies and procedures, as this is key to preventing coronavirus and other common viruses. 

“We are ensuring that our staff and residents are practicing proper hand hygiene, we have a trained infection preventionist who is taking the lead on facility risk assessment for this and other infections.  We have reminded all employees who are sick to stay home and ask all family members and volunteers to avoid visiting our facility for the time being.”

Administrator Sandy Chilson commented the facility has purchased a couple tables which will allow families to face-time or Skype with their loved ones.

 

Schools/College Closed

Howard-Winneshiek, Decorah, Riceville, Turkey Valley, New Hampton, Eastern Allamakee, South Winn and North Fayette Valley Schools will be closed for at least four weeks because of the Coronavirus.

Governor Kim Reynolds made the announcement that she was recommending all schools in the state to close on Sunday evening (March 16) shortly after 8 p.m.

This is in addition to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz having a statewide closure of schools for two weeks, starting Wednesday, March 18.

H-W Superintendent Ted Ihns released this statement on Monday, March 16:

“Following Sunday’s recommendation by Iowa Gov. Reynolds to close all of Iowa’s schools for a period of four weeks, Howard-Winneshiek Community Schools will be closed for four weeks or until further notice starting Tuesday, March 17. This includes all normal school day activities and all extra-curricular activities.

 “At this time we do not have a lot of information because the Governor made that decision around 8:30 p.m. on March 15. We will continue to provide updates to our families, staff and school community as more information becomes available on our district website and Facebook page and at #2020HowardWinn. Thank you for your understanding during this time.”

“We will continue to provide updates to our families, staff and school community as more information becomes available. Thank you for your understanding during this time,” Howard-Winneshiek Schools said in a statement.

At the Monday, March 16 H-W School Board Meeting, Ihns said during the time the school is closed, “We are not allowing staff back into the buildings, but there will be someone to answer phones in the Superintendent’s office. Larry (Trende, building and grounds director) and staff will be doing a thorough cleaning of the buildings.

Also discussed was the possibility of having meals available for students, perhaps of the grab-and-go variety, similar to what happens during the summer food program, Wisdom and Wellness.

The closure also affects activities, as State and All-State speech, music contests and sporting events will not take place during this time.

All Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union sports are prohibited from practicing, competition and sanctioned activity until the closure is lifted. This means no in-person contact between coaches/administrators and student-athletes for the duration of the period.

Northeast Iowa Community College announced, following its spring break on March 9-13, all face-to-face classes and related activities (e.g., clinicals, labs) are cancelled beginning Monday, March 16. The college plans to adjust face-to-face classes to be online starting Monday, March 23. Online classes were to continue as scheduled. 

NICC campuses and centers were to remain open with staff reporting to work as scheduled. NICC Child Development Centers remained open.

City of Cresco

On Monday (March 16), Cresco Mayor Mark Bohle announced Cresco Fitness Center, Cresco Public Library, Cresco Theatre and Cresco City Hall will be closed for 14 days or until further notice starting on March 17.

 

Churches 

This past weekend, Notre Dame Catholic Church took away the Holy Blood (wine), bread, holding hands and Holy Water fonts, but church went on as scheduled.

On Monday, the Archdiocese of Dubuque announced all public celebrations of Holy Mass were cancelled, and all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Dubuque are dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. Confirmation classes are also cancelled. During this time, the Archbishop will live stream a celebration of Holy Mass each Sunday, as well as the Chrism Mass (and the Triduum, if the situation has not changed by then) and will lead the Rosary each week on Thursday.

Immanuel Lutheran Church announced it would still hold its 7 p.m. Wednesday Lenten Worships and 9 a.m. Sunday morning Worships on March 16, although all extra activities were cancelled, including Glow Meal classes and Confirmation classes.

Cresco Awana also announced it would be cancelled for at least the next four weeks.

Cherry Grove Church closed its Sunday services on March 15. Many Rochester congregations also closed on Sunday. In the future, it is likely more and more churches will be cancelling services.

 

Other Closures

• Chester Skating Rink is temporarily closed until further notice.

• In Elma, Tossed and Found thrift store will be closed for the remainder of March. 

• All activities from the Iowa State Extension from March 23 through April 4 have been cancelled. 

• Lime Springs Public Library will be closed March 18-25 or until further notice.

• In Riceville, Mayor Dennis Leard said the City is acting based on advice from Mitchell County Home Health Care & Public Health, who has held meetings with local Mayors, and there are no restrictions at this time. “If there is more news, there will be a meeting, and we will let people know,” he said.

• Elma Public Library wants to stay open as much as possible and offer what services it can. Director Renee Burke noted they will have reduced hours. Check out Elma Public Library’s Facebook Page for more information.

• Bingo at Cresco Wildlife Club on Sunday afternoons is cancelled until further notice, as is Bingo in Lime Springs on Monday nights.

 

Events cancelled

/postponed

• Classy Lassies (formerly Girls’ Day Out) events scheduled for March 21 in Cresco has been cancelled.

• F.I.T. Running Club’s Facebook page explained, “In coordination with county and state recommendations, unfortunately we will be postponing all Brew & Stew events on March 21 until county/state gives the okay to proceed with the event, date to be determined. Continue to look for updates on our Facebook page Fit Running Club.”

• Lime Springs/Chester Fish & Game Club stated, “We are cancelling our Game Feed due to the safety of our members and supporters. We still will be having the gun raffle on Old Settlers Day!”

• On Sunday, March 15, The Iowa House and Senate announced the legislative session is being suspended for at least 30 days due to the coronavirus.

In addition, the Iowa Supreme Court is postponing all criminal and civil jury trials due to the coronavirus.

Unless a jury has already been sworn in, criminal trials will be not start until April 20 and civil trials will be pushed back until May 4. County clerk of court offices will remain open.

• Howard County Emergency Management announced on March 12 that the Storm Spotter Class scheduled for March 18 at the Featherlite Center in Cresco was cancelled by the National Weather Service, due to concerns over the virus.

• The Iowa Democratic Party announced county conventions that were to be held on March 21 would be postponed to a date to be determined. District and State conventions are currently on pace to continue as scheduled.

 

Ace Hardware in Cresco

Ruppert’s Ace Hardware Manager Robert White said supplies that have been “hit hard” by the Coronavirus are toilet paper, Lysol wipes and hand sanitizer. 

“We still have toilet paper at the store but we don’t have Lysol wipes or hand sanitizer,” White said. “We are about one month out of getting the wipes and hand sanitizer. We are hoping to have a warehouse truck come soon to deliver those supplies.

“Other than those items, business has been steady here. People are still coming in to get spring supplies, such as lawn and garden equipment. We are encouraging people to continue to come into the store to see if the cleaning supplies have arrived,” White finished.

 

Holstrom’s

Although not health-related, Holstrom’s Gift & Jewelry already has worries for the Christmas shopping season. Barb Holstrom noted, “Usually with one of the companies we work with, we order Christmas gift items in August or September. They told us we should put our order in because it will be first order in, first order out. 

“Some of the items come from China. Right now, there are 12,000 factories in China that are shut down. They have to be inspected before they can re-open. We’ve already put our order in so gift items will be here by November/December.”

 

Mediacom

Mediacom Communications has announced measures to help slow the spread of the infection, including increasing the speed of the Mediacom Connect2Compete low-cost internet program; extending the pricing of Mediacom’s Access Internet 60 broadband service to new customers; pausing monthly data allowances across all Mediacom broadband service tiers through May 15, 2020; and providing complimentary access to all Mediacom Xtream Wi-Fi Hotspots for 60 days.

“By helping as many people as possible get online, we hope to create opportunities for patients to safely connect with their doctors through telemedicine applications, for students to continue their studies online and for employees to work from home,” said John Pascarelli, Mediacom’s EVP of Operations.

 

Restaurants

As of noon on March 17 until at least midnight on March 31, there will be no sit-down meals at restaurants or bars. Only take-out meals will be available.

 

Convenience Stores

Both Casey’s General Store and Kwik Star are open to customers. Both stores, however, are taking part in safety measures such as increasing how often they clean food preparation equipment, counters, restrooms, fuel pumps and other high-contact areas. They are also discontinuing the use of refillable mugs and cups and encourage customers to use disposable ones the stores make available.

The Cresco Chamber of Commerce’s website and the Howard-County.com website will be updated daily with cancellations and postponements of upcoming events.

Err on the side of caution during this crisis. Stay home if at all possible, check on home-bound neighbors, wash your hands frequently and call ahead if you need to go to the hospital.