As COVID cases continue to rise in Wright County, surpassing 1,000 cases as of Monday, Nov. 16 according to Wright County Public Health Nurse and epidemiologist Sandy McGrath, she reminds us that it’s absolutely imperative that people think smart and choose wisely in order to contain the disease that continues to plague our world. Wearing a mask, social distancing, and getting tested if you’ve been exposed are ways to do that.
“It’s that time of year for allergies…but if you lose your taste and/or sense of smell, it’s time to go ‘oh no,’” cautioned McGrath. “Test if you’ve been exposed. Hunker down…take your symptoms seriously.
However, McGrath stated that while it’s natural for those who have been exposed to want to run right out and get a rapid test, that’s not the best plan. These tests are ONLY for those people already displaying symptoms. They are also most effective only after three to five days after exposure. Any sooner than that and you could receive a false negative back.
McGrath said that Wright County continues to do contact tracing when they receive a positive test result notice. In that scenario, people are eligible to come to either Public Health for testing or to visit a pop-up site that may be established if a larger outbreak has been identified.
Other options include Test Iowa sites that Governor Kim Reynolds has specified. Iowa Specialty Hospital – Belmond has been named as the Wright County site. It is located at 403 1st Street SE and has testing hours Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Individuals wishing to be tested must first complete the online assessment at testiowa.com. There is no fee for this test.
If you have not been exposed, but are not feeling well and would like a test, McGrath recommends you call your local provider as testing is also being done as needed through office calls and doctor visits.
With the holidays just around the corner, McGrath, Public Health, and health-care workers around the nation are asking us to take every precaution we can to stay safe. Limit social gatherings with people outside of your immediate family who you live with; social distance, wear a mask, and wash your hands. If we all put safety first, hopefully 2021 will bring us better days ahead.
