There were seven influenza-associated deaths in Iowa last week as the influenza activity is still elevated. This flu season there have been 42 influenza-associated deaths in Iowa. Last week, there were 55 influenza-associated hospitalizations, one long-term care outbreak, and 30 schools with 10% or greater absence due to illness. Two of those schools were in Henry County, and there was one each in Iowa, Johnson, Louisa, and Jefferson Counties. Washington County Public Health Director Danielle Pettit-Majewski says annual flu vaccines are recommended, “So flu season is really August to May. … It’s really the whole school year. I remember thinking it was like October to March, but now it really is August to May. We get our flu vaccine typically the first part of September.”

Meanwhile, the Iowa Department of Public Health states the risk of COVID-19 remains low for Iowans. People are reminded to help contain the spread of illness by washing their hands for 20 seconds with soap and water, cover your coughs and sneezes, and contain illness by staying home when sick.