COVID concerns in Wright County

COVID concerns are on the rise in Wright County, but so too is a proactive approach to  testing and contact tracing (meaning in-depth questions about where they have been, who they have been in contact with, for how long, and how close they have been to people), according to Wright County Supervisor Karl Helgevold.

After three separate individuals in the county recently tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, Wright County Public Health contact tracing revealed that they had all been in contact with a large number of people prior to having symptoms or being tested.  According to Helgevold, this prompted immediate pop-up testing that was held in both Clarion and Eagle Grove this past weekend conducted by Iowa Specialty Hospital and Wright County Public Health.  The testing was set up for individuals and families of all those who had come in contact with these specific cases.  Fifty people were tested at a drive-thru site in Clarion on Saturday, May 30, and an additional 86 people were tested at the Eagle Grove drive-thru site (the swimming pool) on Sunday evening, May 31. 

“Any positive is quarantined.  Any contact/exposed to a positive meeting the criteria of less than six feet or more than 15 minutes or living in that household is also quarantined.  However, Wright County takes an aggressive stance and often times tests the household contacts also. So this may show some increased positive numbers,” said Sandy McGrath, R.N., Environmental Health, Epidmeology, and Emergency Preparedness.

“That’s the aggressive stance we are taking in fighting this...so with more testing means more possible positive results,” said Helgevold.

He added that people shouldn’t be fooled.  More positive COVID results doesn’t necessarily mean Wright County has more, it just means health officials are being proactive and doing more testing.  If you don’t test, you don’t know for sure.

“Our (Wright County’s) numbers are up because we’re kicking every rock right now...more testing results in more positive findings...but that can be a positive thing in helping to identify people and then stopping their contact and potentially the spread of the virus,” Helgevold said. 

The Board of Health does have the ability to limit movement where they are seeing quarantines.

Testing has also previously included all residents and employees at local nursing homes as well.  If they should find a positive test for an employee, they will immediately retest all residents of that facility according to Helgevold.  They are also doing random testing at varying corporations and businesses to ensure the best possible safety measures are being taken.

“People just have to be responsible for their actions and think about not only the safety of themselves, but the people around them as well,” Helgevold said encouraging everyone to follow the safety guidelines that have been set.

If you have concerns you may have been exposed to or are positive for COVID-19, please call Public Health or a local clinic/hospital for instructions.

“A lot of people are asymptomatic but testing positive...and the more positives we can uncover, the better it is for Wright County so we can warn people,” said Helgevold.