2019 Coronavirus Situation Update – As of 3/25/2020 – 11:00a.m. 

COVID-19 Community Spread Confirmed in Iowa, Marion County Leadership take additional measures to limit the spread within the county. There are no current reported, positive cases in Marion County. 

The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a rapidly, changing situation. Due to detection of substantial community spread in Iowa, new recommendations are being made and new mitigation measures should be implemented immediately for Marion County residents. 

• Community spread occurs when individuals have been infected with the virus in an area and cannot specifically identify the source of the infection, or do not know how or where they became infected. 
• The CDC recommends the following home isolation measures be taken if you are sick and if you will not have a test to see if you are still contagious. You can leave your sick room and home when: o No fever for at least 72 hours (3 days) AND 

o Other symptoms have improved AND o It has been 7 days since you started feeling sick. 

President Trump has made a proclamation declaring a National Emergency concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak 

• The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America:15 Days to Slow the Spread as of 3/16/20. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/03.16.20_coronavirus- guidance_8.5x11_315PM.pdf

 

2019 Coronavirus Situation Update – As of 3/25/2020 – 11:00a.m. 

COVID-19 New Details: 

• 3/25/20 The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been notified of a total of 145 positive cases. There have been 2,315 negative tests conducted at the State Hygienic Lab to date. 
• 3/25/20 With Coronavirus Deal Struck, Congress Moves to Take Up Relief Package: Legislation to provide direct financial checks to many Americans, expand unemployment insurance, offer health-care providers additional resources https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration- senate-democrats-said-to-reach-stimulus-bill-deal-11585113371 
• 3/24/20 First COVID-19 Death Confirmed in Iowa https://idph.iowa.gov/News/ArtMID/646/ArticleID/158315/First-COVID-19-Death-Confirmed-in- Iowa-32420 
• 3/24/20 Gov. Reynolds stated there will be no “shelter in place” in effect for the State of Iowa. 
• Gov. Reynolds announced a new COVID-19 Website: https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/ 
• Gov. Reynolds emphasized social distancing: 

o Send 1 person out of the household to run errands/buy essential groceries o Do not send your child to childcare if at all preventable o Work from home if in any way possible 

• Gov. Reynolds issues a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency https://governor.iowa.gov/press-release/gov-reynolds-issues-a-state-of-public-health-disaster- emergency 
• Thu, 03/19/2020 – 17:07 – The governor’s office and the Iowa Department of Public Health will be transitioning to mid-morning updates as testing capabilities have expanded. 
• Gov. Reynolds signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency, activating the disaster response and recovery aspects of the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s Iowa Emergency Response Plan. 

What can Marion County residents do to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19? 

• Please follow all media releases regarding COVID-19 in Marion County, Iowa by visiting: 

o Facebook: https://fb.me/MarionCountyIAResponsetoCOVID19 o Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarionCoCOVID19 

• Disinfecting your home if someone is sick: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/prepare/disinfecting-your-home.html 
• Steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html 

Local News in Marion County: 

• COVID-19 Potential Fraud Scam Alert, 3/24/2020 

2019 Coronavirus Situation Update – As of 3/25/2020 – 11:00a.m. 

o FNS has already received at least one report of a potential scam targeting 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/scam-alerts Food Relief 

• All food relief information for Marion County schools and residents will be updated live. Please check this link daily as information is rapidly changing: https://comarionia- my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/rgarner_marioncountyiowa_gov/EaVqpX3oKqpPmDspZ- NLi4wB91dogcoNVeQFsSQhCMbksA?e=EpUvvC 

Childcare/Schools 

• https://iowaccrr.org/providers/links/resources2020/ 
• Teachable Moment, a collection of lessons and activities curated by your STEM Network Team to help use the precious time of learners and caregivers during the suspension of schooling through coronavirus mitigation. https://www.iowastem.gov/TeachableMoment 
• Iowa DHS has created a real time map with all of the available childcare resources for essential employees who are in need of childcare for their children. To see childcare availability in your area, please visit: https://iowa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/cabe69b5e2494259ab6c820c249e 0f19 
• Access to child care for essential employees is a high priority. Please have any essential employee who need child care contact Child Care Resource and Referral for personalized assistance: 

o Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Talk to a Parent Referral Specialist: 855-244-5301 o Email our Parent Referral team: childcare@caeiowa.org o Parent information can be accessed: https://iowaccrr.org/families/ o Child Care Resource and Referral are dedicated to contacting all childcare businesses 

and keeping our database as current as possible for openings. We are also available to help address any other childcare concerns your county may be experiencing. Please contact us if we can be of assistance to your local planning. https://iowaccrr.org/staff/ 

• This is an assessment of need and not a guarantee of a service that will be provided. The Goal: Ensure working parents serving in critical roles, defined below, who are impacted by school closures continue to have access to childcare. For those parents with children 12 years old and younger, or a child with special needs up to age 19, DHS will ensure access to childcare located at a school-based or alternative site. ELIGIBILITY: Parents offered this service will be limited to a two-parent household who both work, or single-parent who works, in the following fields: – All hospital staff; – All healthcare providers in private practice and all direct care staff; – Staff who provide critical government infrastructure: examples include: social services, child protection services, public health officials, tax collection, corrections and other public safety; – Emergency responders; – Food service workers, including grocery store staff and limited restaurant staff to include supporting take-away options; and – Others as approved by the Director of Human Services. If this applies to your current situation, please respond with your information including how many of your children would need child care on an emergency basis to: childcareinfo@marioncountyiowa.gov 

Hospitals 

 

2019 Coronavirus Situation Update – As of 3/25/2020 – 11:00a.m. 

• Pella Regional Temporarily Suspending Elective Surgeries effective Monday, March 23 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Patient and Visitor Screenings and Restrictions are in Place at Pella Regional Health Center beginning at 6:30 am on Tuesday, March 17th . Please visit https://www.pellahealth.org/ for more details. For more information and maps of open entrances, please visit https://www.pellahealth.org/about-us/news/patient-and-visitor-screenings-and-restrictions-in- place-at-pell/ 
• Knoxville Hospital & Clinics Limits Public Entrances, Implements Screening in Vehicles 

o Beginning Wednesday, March 18, Knoxville Hospital & Clinics (KHC) is limiting the 

number of public entrances to campus. All patients and visitors will be screened in their vehicles prior to entering the KHC campus. o Please visit https://knoxvillehospital.org/ for more details. 

• The Knoxville Good Samaritan Free Clinic at the Activity Center will be closed as of March 23rd. 
• Knoxville Hospitals and clinics are not accepting homemade PPE (e.g. sewn face masks) at this time. o Pella Regional Health Center is accepting homemade facemasks. Follow the link for the preferred method sewing fabric masks: https://www.pellahealth.org/2019-novel- coronavirus-covid-19/sewing-fabric-masks/ 

Other County Information 

• Please take note of all the ways you can continue to shop local to stimulate our local economy all while keeping you and your family safe. https://www.knoxvilleiachamber.com/covid-19-community-resources/ https://pella.org/pellanow/ 
• Know the facts about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and help stop the spread of rumors. 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/share- facts.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019- ncov%2Fabout%2Fshare-facts.html 

• SCISWA Scale House and Office Closed to Public. In an effort to protect the health of our employees and in support of local Covid-19 guidelines, the South Central Iowa Solid Waste Agency’s scale houses and offices are temporarily closed to the public but will maintain regular business hours and continue to accept solid waste and recycling from residents and haulers. 
• The IMPACT Army Post, Jasper County, Marion County, and Warren County Resource Centers will be closed at this time but will still offer all services over the phone. IMPACT Marion County Resource Center: 641-842-6571 
• For the City of Pella COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information and Closure Updates please visit: https://www.cityofpella.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=864 
• In accordance with President Trump’s “15 Days to Control the Spread,” the Marion County Board of Supervisors urges residents to suspend all non-essential travel (including work and vacation travel) until further notice. 
• The Marion County Board of Supervisors approved the suspension of certain county government functions effective 3/18/20. Most departments are closed to the public but are still available by phone and/or email. 

o Please visit https://www.marioncountyiowa.gov/covid_19.htm for this and other county 

related information and closures. o Marion County Sheriff’s Office 

o We are now accepting Weapon Permit Applications by drop off at the Marion 

County Sheriff’s Office Mon-Fri 8:00 am to 4:30pm or by mail. There is a box in between the locked doors that completed applications can be left in during business hours only. Please include with your Application, a copy of your driver’s license, (with correct Marion county address), a copy of your training certificate and payment. Applications must be in a sealed envelope marked weapons permit. You may include cash, (in the exact amount only), a cashier’s check or 

 

2019 Coronavirus Situation Update – As of 3/25/2020 – 11:00a.m. 

money order made payable to the Marion County Sheriff as payment with your application that’s dropped off but be aware that it is not in a locked box. Please push the button on the wall for intercom and announce that you have dropped off a weapons permit so we can retrieve your envelope promptly. o Marion County Auditor’s Office 

o Deadline for County Level Offices (Partisan Candidates for June Primary) – 

March 25, 2020 at 5:00 pm o The Marion County Auditor’s Office will be open at the following two locations to meet the County Level Office Candidate Filing Deadline due to the current office relocation efforts. o Auditor’s Office 2nd Floor – Marion County Courthouse: 214 E Main St Knoxville, 

IA 50138 o Auditor’s Office – former Knoxville Community Schools East Elementary: 614 E 

Washington St Knoxville, IA 50138 o Please contact the Marion County Auditor’s Office with any questions: 641-828- 

2217 o County Attorney 

o Marion County Courthouse offices will move from the Historic Marion County 

courthouse on the square to East Elementary School Monday, March 23rd – Wednesday, Marcy 25th, 2020. The County Attorney’s Office in coordination with the judicial branch continue to reschedule hearings in accordance with all supreme court directives. We hope to have that process completed by early next week. Again if you have court date set in the next few weeks, please contact your attorney directly. If you don’t recall who your attorney is, contact the clerk of courts office. If you have misplaced your attorneys phone number, a list of attorneys who regularly appear in Marion county is available on the County Website. https://www.marioncountyiowa.gov/offices/attorney/index.htm o Jury Duty. Anyone who received notice that you were a perspective juror for 

March of 2020. You service has concluded, and you need not call in anymore. For April jurors. You will need to start calling the number listed on your summons on April 17. o Clerk of Courts – Still open to public for emergency-based situations, such as 

obtaining a domestic abuse protection order, sexual abuse protection order, seeking committal paperwork (mental health or substance abuse). o Treasurers – Penalty for property taxes will be waived from payments made 

after April 1st – April 16th, 2020. 

▪ Contact office to make payment arrangements/payment plan if cannot pay in full. 

▪ Available 7 days a week for phone and email assistance. o Human Resources 

Anyone wishing to apply for a posted job with Marion County, you may still drop off your completed paperwork at 3014 E Main Street, Knoxville, Iowa. 

• In an effort to implement social distancing practices recommended to slow the spread of COVID- 19, The City of Knoxville offices, including City Hall, Police Department, Fire Station and Public Works will be closed to the public effective Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. until further notice. While these facilities are closed to walk-in traffic, City Services will continue to be provided online, via email or by phone. For more information please contact https://www.knoxvilleia.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=243 
• Representation from both Knoxville and Pella area hospitals are requested for the next Marion County Board of Supervisors meeting/press conference to be held on every Monday and Friday at 1pm, location 3014 E. Main Street, Knoxville, IA 50138. Only one representative is requested per hospital in order to limit the amount of participants during this meeting. 
• EMS/First Responders 

o 9-1-1 still active. Will be asked a set a questions upon calling related to COVID-19. 

 

2019 Coronavirus Situation Update – As of 3/25/2020 – 11:00a.m. 

o Doorway triage will look different: will be asked a set of COVID-19 related questions to 

provide first responders limited exposure. 

▪ Will be wearing different PPE – do not be alarmed. This is procedure and does not indicate any exposure to a patient with COVID-19. 

Businesses 

• 3/23/20 Press Conference- Governor Reynolds, along with IEDA and IWD announced additional funding available for small businesses relief in Iowa. $5,000-$25,000 is available for businesses having between 2-25 employees. That Iowa Small Business Relief Fund application will be available on Iowa Economic Development’s website starting tomorrow. For more information on this and other COVID-19: IOWA BUSINESS RECOVERY ASSISTANCE https://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/businessrecovery 
• 3/22/20 Gov. Reynolds announced that all salons, barber shops, massage spas, and tattoo parlors are to close at 10:00pm today. 
• Small Business Loans – 3/21/20 Governor Reynolds announced yesterday that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued a disaster declaration for the state of Iowa as of January 31, 2020 and continuing. The declaration allows pandemic-impacted small businesses to apply for low-interest support loans. The declaration comes after Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds submitted a federal funding request via the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. 

o Applications can be made via the SBA’s website: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ o Applicants can monitor the status of their applications online after submission. o For questions, please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center at 1- 

800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov 

• The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) needs to assess the impact of the pandemic in Iowa. To assist in these efforts, please complete this survey, developed by University of Northern Iowa – Institute for Decision Making, to tell us what your business is experiencing and how your business is handling the current crisis. https://uni.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4SK7W5qa88IkhXT 
• Governor Reynolds signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency during the morning of March 17, 2020, requesting the closure of the hospitality sector statewide beginning at noon on 03/17/2020. These services include: restaurants and bar, theaters, casinos and gaming facilities, mass gatherings (social, spiritual, religious, recreational, etc), senior citizen centers and adult daycare facilities, all fitness centers, health clubs, health spas, gyms, aquatic centers shall be closed continuing until 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2020. 
• effective Noon on March 17, 2020 and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2020 

o Senior Citizen Centers and Adult Daycare Facilities: All facilities that conduct adult 

day services or other senior citizen centers are hereby closed. o https://governor.iowa.gov/press-release/gov-reynolds-issues-a-state-of-public-health- 

disaster-emergency 

• CDC Resources for Businesses and Employers: Plan, prepare, and respond to coronavirus disease 2019. Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers, Interim US Guidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of Persons with Potential Coronavirus Disease 2019, Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses- employers.html 
• Iowa Workforce Development updates and resources about COVID-19: https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/updates-and-resources-about-covid-19 
• Tattoo parlors, salons, barbershops and tanning salons are not required to be closed under the declaration. They should be encouraged to do health screening for staff and clients before allowing people in. If people are sick or exhibiting signs of illness they should be asked to go home. Enhanced attention to sanitation and a focus on social distancing (i.e. keeping patrons and staff at least 6 feet apart whenever possible) is also warranted during this time. To the extent possible, the numbers of patrons in the establishment should also be limited (encourage them to implement call ahead procedures). 

 

2019 Coronavirus Situation Update – As of 3/25/2020 – 11:00a.m. 

• Iowa Business Information on COVID-19 

o https://www.iasourcelink.com/resources/iowa-business-information-on-covid- 

19 

• 03/20/2020 -Details The Department of Inspections & Appeals issued a press release regarding the immediate suspension of all routine inspections of hotels, home bakeries, and food establishments, including restaurants, bars, and food trucks. DIA will limit inspections to those for complaints, follow-up inspections, and preopening inspections for new businesses. Press release may be found here: https://dia.iowa.gov/pressrelease/20200320/dia- temporarilysuspendsfoodinspectionsduringcovid19response DIA’s website updated here: https://dia.iowa.gov/about/novelcoronaviruscovid19 

Useful links regarding COVID-19 

• For more information regarding COVID-19 related unemployment insurance claims, please visit the Iowa Workforce Development site at https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/ 
• Marion County residents can find the most up-to-date information regarding COVID19 by visiting us at our website at http://www.marioncountyiowa.gov/ , the Iowa Department of Public Health Coronavirus, and the Centers for Disease Control Coronavirus. 
• You can also learn more by visiting https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel- Coronavirus. Along the left side of the screen, you will find guidance for your business and organization, health care, long term care, the general public, schools, travel and prevention. 
• Information regarding how COVID-19 is impacting us globally: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/ 
• For press releases, articles and news updates related to the Governor’s vision for Iowa, please visit https://governor.iowa.gov/newsroom 
• If you need assistance finding food, paying housing bills, accessing free childcare, or other essential services, find your local 211 or dial 211 to speak to someone who can help. http://www.211.org/services/covid19#FAQ 
• COVID-19 DHS Resources ***Guidance is rapidly changing as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds. Please check regularly for the latest information*** https://dhs.iowa.gov/COVID19 
• What to Know About Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Your Mental Health https://dhs.iowa.gov/COVID19 When symptoms associated with your anxiety have affected your ability to function in some part of your life, it’s time to reach out. Reach out to your healthcare provider and discuss your concerns. 

o Many insurers are covering telehealth for mental health services at this time. 

www.YourLifeIowa.org or live chat, text (855-895-8398) or phone (855-581-8111) 

• Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate- safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a- parent-resource?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery 

• COVID-19 Information By and For People with Disabilities http://www.gmsavt.org/