Second week of 100-plus COVID cases

New cases of COVID-19 have dropped somewhat in Iowa over the past few days, but new infections remain high in Winnebago and Kossuth Counties.

Winnebago County saw an additional 105 cases between Tuesday, Nov. 17 and Monday, Nov. 23, while Kossuth County saw 152 new cases in that timeframe. Two more deaths have also been reported in each county since last week, for a total of 23 in Winnebago County, and four in Kossuth County. There were 397 active cases in Winnebago County on Monday and 468 active cases in Kossuth County.

The high number of cases caused MercyOne to make some changes at its clinics in Winnebago County, as it temporarily closed the Buffalo Center Clinic last week. Patients who aren’t sick are being directed to the Lake Mills clinic, while sick patients are being sent to the Forest City clinic.

Andy Buffington, Winnebago County Emergency Management Director, says one of the biggest things people need to do to reduce the spread is to stay home from work when they aren’t feeling well or are symptomatic. “It’s a huge comprehensive part of what we’re going to have to do to get these numbers back down to what they need to be,” said Buffington.

Multiple vaccines are in the works to combat COVID-19, and Buffington says they’re making plans for how those will be distributed in Winnebago County once they’re available. He says their first priority will be residents and staff at long-term care facilities, followed by assisted living, then workers in public health and emergency services. He says they hope to have a central location where the public can go to get vaccinated.