Wash your hands for 20 seconds with water and soap to help prevent the spread of illness, like influenza and COVID-19, that is the advice of the Iowa Department of Public Health. When it comes to getting information about the virus, Senator Charles Grassley has some advice, “A rule of thumb out, that all of your listeners should be paying attention to only what the eight, or nine, or 10, I don’t know how many agencies we have in the federal government that are affected with health care, but they’re all at the long table when we have a briefing about this. And particularly Dr. Fauci, from some branch of the NIH, he’s the one most on television. But any of them that know more about health than Chuck Grassley, or Secretary Azar, or Vice President Pence, or the president, whoever you’re hearing from, pay attention to the health experts.”

Washington County Public Health Director Danielle Pettit-Majewski says people can help contain illness by covering their coughs and sneezes, cleaning their hands regularly, and staying home when they’re sick. She says if you have shortness of breath, fever, and coughing, then call your healthcare provider to be seen. She recommends calling in advance so they can ask you screen questions and to take proper steps for care. For any travel guidelines, check the Centers for Disease Control for updates.

As of Tuesday, eight Iowans tested positive for COVID-19, while 42 have died this season from influenza and last week alone 55 people were hospitalized for influenza-associated illness. Pettit-Majewski reminds people to get an annual flu vaccine.