Author: Theresa Rose

Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Virtual meeting via Zoom
https://zoom.us/j/98643137353?pwd=dG5OTy9tWDVkbkY1WkVtU2ZYeXZCdz09
Meeting ID: 986 4313 7353
Password: 332181
Call in phone number: 1-312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 986 4313 7353

III. PUBLIC HEARING: 12:00 pm
On proposed action by Henry County Health Center for approving and authorizing a Loan Agreement and providing for the issuance and securing the payment of a Hospital Revenue Note
IV. Consent agenda
A. Minutes of previous meeting & committees
B. Administrative Team Reports
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. Labor and Delivery services ♦ □
B. EMS Services ♦ □
C. Construction update ♦ □
D. COVID-19 response ♦ □
VI. HOSPITAL INSPECTION:
VII. MEDICAL STAFF REPORT:
A. Medical Staff appointments and reappointments ♦ □ *
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
A. Resolution for approving loan agreement & providing issuance of Hospital Revenue Note ♦ □ *
B. Community Health Needs Assessment ♦ □ *
C. Omni cell upgrade ♦ □ *
IX. EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE
X. ADJOURNMENT

The Iowa Dept. of Corrections was notified overnight that the COVID-19 test results for an inmate at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center (IMCC) were returned positive.

The inmate was a new admission to IMCC, and arrived from Henry County on Thursday, April 16. As part of IMCC’s efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, all new admissions are kept in an intake quarantine cohort for 14-day observation. While in this quarantine observation, the inmate began displaying symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Medical staff then conducted a test on the inmate, which was returned as positive. The inmate is currently in medical isolation, and a thorough contact tracing is taking place to identify any inmates or staff that may have had exposure since his arrival.

The inmate is described as an adult (age 18-40), and was sentenced to prison for drug crimes. Due to privacy laws, no further information can be provided on the inmate. Their family has been notified. The inmate is in stable condition but being monitored by IMCC medical staff around the clock.

The department has been preparing for the eventuality of COVID-19 in the prison system for more than a month. An outline of the steps that have been taken can be found at doc.iowa.gov/department-corrections-steps, and more information related to COVID-19 in the DOC can be found at doc.iowa.gov/COVID19. For members of the public with questions about COVID-19 in the prison system, a hotline is available during business hours Monday-Friday by calling (515) 373-5457.

Current COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and related business closures have left many Iowa workers jobless, and food banks in the state are scrambling to keep up with a surge in demand. The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) and its county organizations are stepping up to help food banks replenish their supply of protein.

“In this time of need, this is just one way that pork producers can give back and help others,” said Trish Cook, an IPPA board member and a pig farmer from Winthrop, in Buchanan County. “Caring for our communities is one of our ethical principles.”

Most recently, IPPA is donating 8,500 pounds of ground pork, to be distributed equally among five food banks serving Iowans. Each location will receive 1,700 pounds, packaged in one-pound quantities, that will be part of cold-storage boxes the food banks send to pantries within their service areas.

The first pork delivery was this morning at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank in Waterloo.

Recipients of the pork are:

• Food Bank for the Heartland, Omaha, Neb., serving 93 counties in Nebraska and western Iowa.
• Food Bank of Iowa, Des Moines, which serves 55 central and southeastern Iowa counties, stretching from Missouri to Minnesota.
• Food Bank of Siouxland, Sioux City, serving eight counties in northwest Iowa and three counties in Nebraska.
• Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP), Hiawatha, serving six counties in eastern Iowa.
• Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Waterloo, serving 16 Iowa counties.

Food banks across the state have adjusted their operations to respond to the growing need, while adhering to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ social-distancing orders. According to Barb Prather, executive director at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, most of its pantries remain open, though many have transitioned to curbside, drive-through distribution. That means clients remain in their vehicles, while staff or volunteers load up the food.

Prather noted the food bank has seen about a 20 percent increase in the number of people served throughout its regional system.

“We are up against what could be the most people ever needing access to food,” Prather said. “Fortunately, we are able to accept a lot of frozen items and put freezer boxes together for the clients we serve. To add ground pork is just another bonus for them.”

Along with these efforts, last month IPPA partnered with the Illinois Pork Producers Association to donate $8,000 worth of ground pork to the River Bend Foodbank in Davenport, which serves both Illinois and eastern Iowa residents. Each state organization contributed $4,000.

IPPA also has been working with its county pork producer groups to provide nearly 8,000 pork snack sticks for grab-and-go meals that schools are offering to local families. In addition, IPPA and counties have teamed up to give coupons to food banks that clients can redeem for fresh pork products at Iowa retailers. Pork coupons and snack sticks have also been presented as thank-you gestures to health care and emergency workers who are on the front lines of fighting the COVID-19 virus.

William “Bill” Hanks, 75, of Iowa City and formerly New London, died Friday, April 17, 2020 at Journey Senior Living of Ankeny.  Arrangements are pending at Elliott Chapel, New London.

DES MOINES – Saturday the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been notified of 181 additional positive cases for a total of 2,513 positive cases. There are now 27 cases in Henry County, 177 in Louisa County, 113 in Washington County and 8 in Des Moines County.  No additional cases are reported for Jefferson, Lee or Van Buren. There have been additional 974 negative tests for a total of 20,434 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs.

According to IDPH, an additional 10 deaths were also reported, 193 are currently hospitalized, and 1,095 Iowans have recovered.

The additional 10 deaths were reported in the following counties:

• Appanoose County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Linn County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 2 elderly adults (81+),
• Louisa County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Muscatine County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Polk County, 1 elderly adult (81+), 2 older adults (61-80 years)
• Tama County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years),

The state of Iowa has released an updated dashboard on coronavirus.iowa.gov that will be updated daily to include comprehensive tracking of COVID-19 in Iowa. The new dashboard includes cases, deaths, and tests conducted in each county. The state is now providing demographic information that was not previously provided as well as Iowa’s epidemiological curve.

Schools will continue voluntary and required continuous learning plans while school buildings are closed

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education announced today that all school districts and nonpublic schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year and will continue to offer continuous learning to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This also includes the cancellation of spring sports activities.

“While I would like nothing more than to open up our schools and classrooms in May, we have to prioritize the health and safety of Iowans,” said Gov. Reynolds. “With our students at home, we must rely on continuous learning plans that are in place and prepare school districts for ‘Return to Learn’ in the fall. I greatly appreciate the work of Director Ann Lebo and all our school administrators, educators, and staff during this unprecedented time.”

The decision, which was announced today during Gov. Kim Reynolds’ press conference, is based on recommendations from the Iowa Department of Public Health to ensure the health and safety of Iowa students, teachers, school administrators and other school staff.

“Iowa teachers should be commended for how quickly they have transitioned from the classroom to online and distance learning,” said Iowa Department of Education Director Ann Lebo. “Our schools have really stepped up to the plate and worked hard to develop and implement continuous learning solutions in only a matter of weeks. We appreciate everything schools and families are doing to support children’s well-being while continuing to support their academic progress while school buildings are closed.”

The governor and the Iowa Department of Education also announced that the state of Iowa will:

• Waive instructional time requirements for the remainder of the 2019-2020 regularly scheduled academic year for schools that continue to provide continuous learning through one of two approved options, voluntary educational enrichment opportunities, required educational services, or a combination of the two.
• Require schools to submit a Return to Learn Plan to the Iowa Department of Education by July 1 outlining ways they will address disruptions to learning as a result of COVID-19. This could include summer school, enrichment activities or other opportunities to address the needs of learners.
• Waive the requirement that schools start no earlier than Aug. 23, allowing school districts and nonpublic schools to make local decisions about the length of their 2020-2021 academic year.

The governor had previously ordered schools to close through April 30. All of Iowa’s 327 public school districts, as well as 179 nonpublic schools, currently offer continuous learning through one of the approved continuous learning options outlined above. Continuous learning encompasses a variety of approaches used to extend learning beyond brick and mortar buildings — online learning, e-learning, distance learning, including paper packets, and virtual learning.

School buildings will remain closed through the end of the school year except for approved meals site locations participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program and those providing temporary emergency childcare.

An announcement on summer sports activities and when other school-sponsored activities can resume will be made by June 1.

For more information, visit the Iowa Department of Education’s COVID-19 Guidance and Information web page.

The most recent numbers of positive cases in counties in the KILJ listening area:

Henry County 26

Louisa 169

Washington 109

Des Moines and Van Buren 8

Jefferson 4

Lee 3

As they try to protect themselves and others from contracting COVID-19, Iowans may feel overwhelmed by information about using various chemicals for cleaning and sanitizing. Food safety and nutrition and wellness specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offer tips to help Iowans sort through the information overload and safely use disinfectants to clean and sanitize their homes.

Whether using commercial or homemade products, Iowans need to follow the guidelines outlined by reputable agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other governmental organizations, say Anirudh Naig, Shannon Coleman and Angela Shaw.

Naig is a food safety state specialist and associate professor in the ISU Department of Apparel, Events and Hospitality Management. Coleman is an assistant professor and food safety specialist in the ISU Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. Shaw is a food safety state specialist and associate professor in the ISU Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. They offer the following recommendations.

Use approved commercial products

One way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to use recommended cleaning products and disinfectants. The Environmental Protection Agency has provided a list of products that are EPA-approved for use against COVID-19. If using alcohol, the concentration of alcohol must be at least 70% for it to be effective. Some of these chemicals require consumers to use gloves as they can cause chemical burns.

The CDC has outlined methods for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces:

• General Recommendations for Routine Cleaning and Disinfection of Households.
• How to Clean and Disinfect Surfaces.

Prepare homemade products safely

If your local grocer runs out of the routine commercial sanitizers for home use, preparing a bleach solution is also an effective disinfectant. Consumers can mix five tablespoons (one-third cup) bleach per gallon of water or four teaspoons bleach per quart of water. Follow the manufacturer’s directions on how to apply the disinfectant and ensure it stays on the surface (contact time) for one minute to be effective as a disinfectant. Michigan State University Center for Research on Ingredients Safety developed a resource to guide on how to prepare an effective disinfectant solution using bleach.

Read the manufacturer’s directions on how long the disinfectant solution stays effective when diluted. Do not use expired chemicals. When preparing any type of disinfectant, always follow safe chemical handling practices.

Clean and sanitize surfaces, and wash your hands

Remember, cleaning and sanitizing is a multiple-step process:

1. Preparation. Remove loose dirt and food particles.
2. Cleaning. Wash with clean water and a food-grade detergent.
3. Use an approved sanitizer outlined above for the designated time.
4. Air-dry the surface.

Before and after you clean and sanitize a surface, wash your hands. Follow these four steps to proper handwashing:

1. Rinse hands under clean water.
2. Apply soap and scrub hands for 20 seconds.
3. Rinse hands under clean water.
4. Dry hands with a paper towel or hand dryer.