Iowa saw 169 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed over the weekend. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, as of Sunday afternoon Iowa has 868 cases of the novel coronavirus and 22 deaths, with more than 40% of all deaths in the state associated with outbreaks in long-term care facilities. Washington County has the fourth-highest number of cases in the state with 49 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and three deaths.

Washington County Public Health Director Danielle Pettit-Majewski says this is a difficult time for people to navigate, “I think it’s also really important that you understand this is challenging, this is hard. And I think it can also exacerbate existing mental health issues. And so, I always want to just recommend that there are resources available. YourLifeIowa.org is a great resource if you’re struggling with mental health, it’s a service you can call because this is a hard time, and everybody handles things differently. And so, it’s perfectly okay to reach out for help.” to visit YourLifeIowa.org click here.

People are urged to stay home as much as possible to prevent the spread of the virus, wash hands frequently with soap and water, and cover coughs and sneezes. Pettit-Majewski recommends one person from each family be the person who gets groceries and essentials, and consider online or phone orders to prevent contact with other people. Limit contact with people outside of those in your household.