Wright County declares state of emergency in response to COVID-19

Because of the potential health, economic, and social risks associated with the COVID 19 pandemic which the State of Iowa declared on March 9, 2020 and further declared a community spread outbreak on March 14, 2020, the Wright County Board of Supervisors, under the recommendation of the Wright County Board of Health, has declared a State of Emergency in an effort to proactively reduce the effects of the pandemic in Wright County. 

“The potential effect of an outbreak of COVID 19 in Wright County is tremendous, although we do not have any positive cases in Wright County at this time,” said Mickey Cooper, President of the  Board of Health.  Local school districts are scheduled to close for a period of time, local businesses and charitable organizations would see a loss of support, and the residents will face restricted access to public services.  

Therefore, the Wright County Board of Supervisors has declared a State of Emergency authorized under Iowa Statute and will execute the expenditure of emergency funds from all available sources, the invoking of mutual aid agreements, and the applying to the State of Iowa for assistance as necessary. With this declaration, we wish to minimize the exposure by limiting social contact and movement to reduce the physical load on the public health care system and reduce risk to the public. 

“The better informed that our residents are and their willingness to follow preventable measures will not only protect their health, but the health of those around them,” Supervisor Karl Helgevold stated.

Sandy McGrath, Wright County Epidemiology said, “With the growing number of COVID-19 cases popping up in Iowa, we know that this infection is becoming community spread. Take all precautions of washing your hands, staying home when you are sick, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.”