NOVEL CORONAVIRUS & COVID-19
Status of County Facilities and Services
Linn County’s highest priority is the health and well-being of our community. Due to the alarming surge in positive COVID-19 cases and record-breaking hospitalizations across the country and locally, Linn County has closed most County buildings to the public once again to help reduce community spread of the virus and to help ensure continuity of County services. The closure will remain in effect until public health conditions improve and allow for modifications.
County staff continue to work on-site and remotely to provide County services to the public. Residents and businesses may conduct County business online, by phone, by email, by mail, and by drop boxes located outside County buildings. We appreciate the public's understanding of the need to conduct business in new ways during this global pandemic.
Immediate Notice (Effective November 6, 2020)
A delay in the availability of new case data was encountered during the week of November 2nd following changes in how the Iowa Department of Public Health reports positive COVID-19 case information to local public health agencies. This change has impacted the number of cases and hospitalizations showing on our Linn County Case Counts and Metrics pages. We are working to update the data as soon as possible.
Actions to Combat Increase in COVID-19
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Linn County Public Health has sought to recommend action and practices based on available data and best practice research. This included recommended safety practices for keeping our community safe while continuing to support businesses, restaurants, and schools in the county. At this time, Linn County Public Health is recommending additional actions be taken to address the significant increase in COVID-19 cases in Linn County. This guidance outlines recommended actions across three tiers. The following health metrics are used to determine when the spread of the virus requires additional restrictive actions be taken or loosened. Linn County Public Health currently recommends actions in Tier 1 of the Actions to Combat Increase in COVID-19 guidance.
Contact Tracing Update
Due to increased cases of COVID-19 in Linn County, Linn County Public Health is adjusting contact tracing methods to best serve our community.
Linn County residents with COVID-19 are encouraged to review current Guidance for COVID-19 Positive Individuals and the information requested on the COVID-19 Investigation Form, used for the contact tracing process. Linn County residents who have received a positive COVID-19 test result can complete the COVID-19 Investigation Form online here. Completing the online investigation form will improve efficiency of contact tracing efforts by Linn County Public Health.
Linn County’s COVID-19 Response
Linn County’s highest priority is the health and well-being of our community. Linn County Public Health, a department within Linn County government, is working closely with Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as local public officials and private partners to plan for prevention, spread, and response to the global outbreak of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Everyone is encouraged to follow all Iowa Department of Public Health and CDC guidelines to help prevent contracting or spreading the virus. This site provides links to resources at the federal, state, and local levels and will be updated as needed with the latest updates.
Linn County officials urge all residents to do their part to help slow the spread of COVID-19 by staying home as much as possible, maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet between themselves and others, wearing a cloth face covering in public settings, and washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Doing so will help to reduce the spread of the virus, ease the burden on our hospital and healthcare system, and protect those most vulnerable in our community.
This is an evolving situation at the national, state, and local levels. Agencies are working to provide updated information to the public as it becomes available. For general questions, please call 211.
Report a COVID-19 Violation in a Food Business
Restaurants and bars are, by order of the governor, required to adhere to social distancing protocols to remain open. Restaurants, bars, and other establishments are not required to enforce mask usage for customers or staff, though it is strongly encouraged. Please do not report an establishment for not requiring mask use.
To report a COVID-19 violation in a food business, visit the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals website.
Public Meetings
Board of Supervisors meetings are scheduled every Monday and Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. The meetings are streamed live on Linn County’s Facebook page and indexed videos are available on the County’s website after the meeting.
To adhere to social distancing requirements, Linn County employees and the public may participate in the meetings as follows:
- Conference call—telephone number 1-800-945-0974, access code 501116
- Email questions or comments prior to or during the meeting to: bd-supervisors@linncounty.org
For questions about meeting accessibility or to request accommodations to attend or to participate in a meeting due to a disability, please contact the Board of Supervisors office by phone at 319-892-5000 or by email.
Visit the Board and Commissions page for meeting information about Linn County's advisory boards and commissions.
Additional Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- FEMA Rumor Control
- State of Iowa COVID-19
- Database of Business Resources (City of Cedar Rapids & The Gazette partnership)
- Database of Resident Resources (City of Cedar Rapids & The Gazette partnership)