Area Karaoke business owner tests positive for COVID 19

Hunter
03/17/20

Star Entertainment, an Iowa City Karaoke company has announced that the DJ and owner of the business has been confirmed to carry the COVID 19 virus.

According to the company’s website, Don Morrison began to suffer a severe headache and cough just before midnight on Friday March 13th. The next day, symptoms included weakness and fatigue, and being unable to speak without struggling for extra breath.  After a consultation with a nurse at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and a subsequent video conference with a physician, Morrison went to the ER.

Morrison was tested for flu and coronavirus and admitted to the hospital. Test results received on Sunday afternoon revealed that he had contracted the virus.

The post on the company site goes on to say that Morrison doesn’t know of anyone he was in contact with that was ill or showing symptoms, and was not out in public once he began having symptoms.  However, it is possible that Morrison contracted the virus up to two weeks prior to showing symptoms.

Anyone in attendance at Star Entertainment events since February 28th may have been exposed to the virus, and the company is urging anyone who begins having symptoms to follow the appropriate procedures, and should inform their health care provider that they may have been in contact with someone who has tested positive.

Morrison was in hospital isolation until Monday afternoon and is currently isolating at home. His condition has improved, but the post says that he’s still very ill.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that Linn County Public Health announced Tuesday that anyone who on March 6 or March 13 was at the Longbranch Restaurant and Bar, which is inside the Best Western hotel at 90 Twixt Town Road NE in Cedar Rapids, should self-isolate for 14 days from that date. The statement goes on to say that the Longbranch has thoroughly disinfected the business.

Although the business also had events in Johnson County, Public Health Director Dave Koch said at a Tuesday news conference that the risk to individuals is no greater than in the rest of the community, reminding people that the mode of transmission is to be within six feet of someone infected.