[vlog CAPTIONING IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE IOWA CLINIC.] ALYX: ADDRESSING THE STATE. GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS PLANS TO HOST A RARE TELEVISED PUBLIC ADDRESS TONIGHT, JUST AFTER 6:00. SHE WILL TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR IOWANS TO PRACTICE SAFE COVID-19 MITIGATION EFFORTS, AS WELL AS ANNOUNCE NEW STEPS TO FIGHT THE VIRUS. THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE SAYS THESE STEPS WILL HELP PROTECT LIVES, LIVELIHOODS, HOSPITAL RESOURCES, AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS. WE WILL CARRY HER ADDRESS LIVE TONIGHT DURING THE vlog 8 NEWS AT 6:00. THIS COMES AFTER WEEKS OF BREAKING CORONAVIRUS RECORDS IN IOWA. JUST IN THE LAST 24-HOURS, MORE THAN 2,000 NEW CASES WERE REPORTED IN THE STATE AND SIX MORE IOWANS WITH THE VIRUS DIED. SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN MORE THAN 187,000 IOWANS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE. MORE THAN 108,000 HAVE RECOVE
Polk County says health workers overwhelmed ahead of holiday
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Updated: 1:12 PM CST Nov 16, 2020
The Polk County Health Department warned Monday that health care providers are overwhelmed and and metro hospitals have been leaning on rural hospitals to help treat COVID-19 patients.Public health officials project positive cases and hospitalizations will substantially increase after the Thanksgiving holiday.“After every holiday in 2020, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Halloween, we have seen COVID-19 cases increase in our county,” said Helen Eddy, director of the Polk County Health Department. “The Thanksgiving holiday is no different. Our positive cases and hospitalizations are too high to forget about the dangers and the consequences of this virus.”The Polk County Health Department strongly encourages you to follow these tips:Limit celebrating Thanksgiving to only your immediate household. When inviting others to celebrate the holiday outside of your immediate household, you are greatly increasing your risk of COVID-19. If you are in isolation or in quarantine for COVID-19, do NOT attend Thanksgiving celebrations. You are potentially exposing your family and friends to this virus. Individuals who are elderly or have underlying health conditions should not attend Thanksgiving gatherings. Think about other ways to celebrate such as virtual dinners. If you are celebrating indoors, try to open windows and doors to keep fresh air circulating. Before you go shopping, make a list of everything you need. This will limit your time in the stores and help reduce your risk of COVID-19. ALWAYS wear a mask and practice social distancing whenever you leave your home. “Please think about our hospital and health care workers as you celebrate the holiday,” said Eddy. “They have been fighting this virus and taking care of patients since March. Keep them safe and healthy by making smart choices and reduce community spread this Thanksgiving.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have additional resources to celebrate Thanksgiving safety on this website.
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Polk County Health Department warned Monday that health care providers are overwhelmed and and metro hospitals have been leaning on rural hospitals to help treat COVID-19 patients.
Public health officials project positive cases and hospitalizations will substantially increase after the Thanksgiving holiday.
“After every holiday in 2020, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Halloween, we have seen COVID-19 cases increase in our county,” said Helen Eddy, director of the Polk County Health Department. “The Thanksgiving holiday is no different. Our positive cases and hospitalizations are too high to forget about the dangers and the consequences of this virus.”
The Polk County Health Department strongly encourages you to follow these tips:
- Limit celebrating Thanksgiving to only your immediate household. When inviting others to celebrate the holiday outside of your immediate household, you are greatly increasing your risk of COVID-19.
- If you are in isolation or in quarantine for COVID-19, do NOT attend Thanksgiving celebrations. You are potentially exposing your family and friends to this virus.
- Individuals who are elderly or have underlying health conditions should not attend Thanksgiving gatherings. Think about other ways to celebrate such as virtual dinners.
- If you are celebrating indoors, try to open windows and doors to keep fresh air circulating.
- Before you go shopping, make a list of everything you need. This will limit your time in the stores and help reduce your risk of COVID-19.
- ALWAYS wear a mask and practice social distancing whenever you leave your home.
“Please think about our hospital and health care workers as you celebrate the holiday,” said Eddy. “They have been fighting this virus and taking care of patients since March. Keep them safe and healthy by making smart choices and reduce community spread this Thanksgiving.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have additional resources to celebrate Thanksgiving safety on this .
