August 16, 2021
CURRENT BLACK HAWK COUNTY COVID-19 STATUS
· 13.6% = 14-Day Average Percent Positive in Black Hawk County
· 134 New Positive Cases since update on 8/13/2021
· 61.1% of eligible Black Hawk County residents (12+) have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine as of August 11, 2021.
The Black Hawk County Health Department recommends that face coverings be worn in indoor settings particularly in situations when social distancing of 6ft cannot be maintained.
The Black Hawk County Health Department recommends that fully vaccinated people also wear a mask in public indoor settings if they are in an area of substantial or high transmission.
Per the CDC, Black Hawk County is currently at the High level of transmission.
Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Isolate if you tested positive for COVID-19 in the prior 10 days or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
Individuals who have a household member that is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19 should quarantine at home for 10 days after their last close contact with their ill household member or 10 days after their ill household member is no longer infectious if the household member is not isolating away from others. Fully vaccinated people do not need to quarantine after being exposed. However,they should be tested 3-5 days after exposure and continue to wear a mask in indoor public settings.
Regular cleaning should be conducted in shared spaces and frequently touched surfaces. Individuals should use cleaning products correctly and wear appropriate personal protective equipment during use.
Iowans have the option for at-home testing and may choose to pick up a test kit from a site in their community or have a kit sent to their home at no cost. Each test kit includes instructions on how to collect and ship the specimen. For more information and to find a location near you visit testiowa.com.
Test kits can be picked up in Waterloo at:
· PeoplesCommunity Health Clinic: 905 Franklin Street, Waterloo
· ACE-SAP Free Clinic: 207 Logan Avenue, Waterloo
· Hawkeye Student Health Clinic: 1501 E Orange Road, Waterloo
Other testing locations can be found throughout the community at pharmacies and health care clinics including CVS, Hy-Vee, Walgreens, MercyOne & UnityPoint Health.
On August 11, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance and is recommending that people with moderately to severe compromised immune systems receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna). To ensure that there are not additional barriers to access, individuals will not need a prescription or a referral from a healthcare provider to prove they are immunocompromised and should receive the additional dose at least 28 days after they have completed the two-dose regimen.
According to the CDC, there is currently not enough data to support additional doses for individuals who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or those that are not immunocompromised. Please see the CDC website for specific information on who should receive anadditional COVID-19 vaccine: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html.