Eighteen deaths and 374 new cases of COVID-19 were announced in Iowa on Friday. The state has had 35 long-term care outbreaks and Wapello Specialty Care announced on Friday that they’ve had 10 residents and 12 employees test positive for COVID-19. Louisa County has had 304 cases and three deaths.

Washington County has had 163 total cases of the virus and eight deaths.

Washington County Public Health Director Danielle Pettit-Majewski recommends people continue to take steps to stay safe and prevent further spread of the virus, “I think, you know, especially as businesses start to open back up. I think trying to implement as many best practices as possible for your employees. If you can continue to have people working from home, have them do so. Reduce your capacity in your business, maybe allow fewer people in at one time. I’ve seen people put some things on the floor, you know so people are staying six feet apart. You know, temp checking your employees before they come, asking them if they’ve had any fever, any shortness of breath, any runny nose, any cough; kind of going through some of those screenings.” She also encourages customers to not go into businesses if they’ve been sick and recommends customers and staff to wear cloth masks. Cloth masks should be washed daily after use.