Allamakee County sees lowest weekly COVID-19 case count since late March with two cases

For the first time since the final week in March, Allamakee County’s case count for confirmed positive tests for the COVID-19 infection came in at its lowest weekly total. The past week resulted in just two positive confirmed cases for the county, its lowest case count for a week’s time since just one case was reported during the third week of reported cases within the state of Iowa, March 24-April 1.

Those two cases came out of 62 reported tests this past week, leaving the Allamakee County total at 114 confirmed cases as of reports Monday, May 18, with 81 of those cases being reported as recovered. Prior to this past weekend, two additional cases had also been reported for Allamakee County, leaving the case total at 116 as late as Saturday, May 16, but that case total was dropped to 114 Sunday and remained there through Monday’s reporting, marking three consecutive days without a new confirmed case for Allamakee County - also something not accomplished since that final week in March.

Public health officials say the initial increase to 116 cases was likely the result of test results continuing to come in from the May 5 AgriStar testing and being initially attributed to Allamakee County but being otherwise since assigned due to Postville’s zip code covering a three-county area that includes both Clayton and Fayette as well. Notably, Clayton County’s case count number did increase by two from Sunday, May 17 to Monday, May 18.

STATE WEBSITE CONTINUES TO BE REVAMPED
The State of Iowa website, www.coronavirus.iowa.gov, dedicated to reporting and updating information regarding coronavirus statistics and other information, has been periodically changing its format in what Iowa Public Health officials say is an effort to provide the most informative data. State officials say the site is scheduled for maintenance this weekend: “Due to planned maintenance from 6 a.m. Saturday, May 23 through 6 a.m. Monday, May 25, the Case Counts Dashboard will not reflect accurate counts during the maintenance period. All case counts will be brought up to date by 6 a.m. Monday, May 25.

MORE BUSINESSES OPENING WITH SOME RESTRICTIONS
At her Tuesday, May 12 press conference, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a new proclamation that further eases restrictions on the 22 counties that had been under more strict regulations due to case count instability, including Allamakee County. That further easing of restrictions evened out current guidance in all of Iowa’s 99 counties to the level of what had been in place for all but those 22 counties in northeast and eastern Iowa, and it also allowed for some additional business openings, all that becoming effective May 15.

The proclamation now allows, on a statewide level and still with some limited restrictions, the opening of restaurants for dine-in seating, fitness centers, all retail establishments, salons, barbershops, massage therapy, libraries and social and fraternal clubs. All of these openings are to: be limited to 50% of the establishment’s occupancy capacity, with group gatherings continuing to be limited to 10 or in some cases less; implement social distancing measures of six feet of physical space between groups or individuals by themselves; and involve increased hygiene measures and other business-specific guidelines put in place as noted at each place of business.

Remaining entirely closed, at least until May 28, are all bars - with the exception of those serving food on a carry-out or drive-through basis; casinos; theaters - except drive-in theaters; museums and zoos; playgrounds; and swimming pools, water slides and spray pads, and bath houses. The proclamation can be read at https://governor.iowa.gov/press-release/gov-reynolds-signs-new-proclamat....