With COVID-19 continuing to affect the area, Warren County Emergency Management wants to remind residents to not let up with the safety precautions that have been recommended by Warren County Health Services, the Iowa Department of Public Health, and the CDC. Warren County Emergency Management Coordinator Troy Bass tells KNIA News the virus is not political, it affects everyone the same, so he advises residents to continue wearing a mask out in public, socially distance from those not in your household, and to constantly wash and disinfect your hands.
The COVID-19 pandemic has not altered the overall duties of Warren County Emergency Management, just added additional responsibilities throughout the year of 2020. Warren County Emergency Management Coordinator Troy Bass tells KNIA News his department still had to coordinate with local agencies regarding the normal job responsibilities of emergency management, and the pandemic just added to that load.
“Each day in the world of emergency management is a little bit different. This year was a learning curve for all of us, supporting the state and public health as well as the guidelines they have. And those changed as they learned more about the virus itself. We had to learn how to social distance and work on PPE equipment, and that does take a lot of time. A lot of my time this year was spent on supporting the COVID-19 response, but we still accomplished what we needed to.”
Nine months into the coronavirus pandemic, an outbreak has occurred at the Warren County Regional Jail, with 101 inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19 and eight staffers, including Warren County Jailer Stephen Harmon, also testing positive.
The outbreak began about a week ago, and in response the jail has suspended movement within the facility except for emergencies and necessary virtual court appearances.
All non-essential functions have been suspended to allow jail staff to be involved in monitoring inmates and assisting medical staff in the evaluation and care of inmates.
In a news release Tuesday, Harmon said that in addition to the 101 positive tests among inmates, another 92 inmates have tests pending and additional tests are being performed daily.