UI epidemiologist goes to social media to address recent uptick in COVID 19 cases

Hunter
06/25/20

A University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics epidemiologist went to social media Wednesday to host a Q & A session on Facebook Live, addressing the recent uptick of COVID-19 cases in Johnson County.

CBS 2 reports that Dr. Jorge Salinas said the county was doing tremendously well before the spike, reporting less than ten cases per day. As of mid-June, Salinas says the county is now reporting 50 to 100 new cases daily. He said that spike caught the health community off guard, and concerning due to it happening at the same time that safety measures have been relaxed.

Dr. Salinas says that scientists have learned two significant things since the coronavirus emerged; it doesn’t transmit as well outdoors as it does in enclosed places, but asymptomatic spread is far more common than originally thought.

The epidemiologist encourages everyone to act as though they’re infected; everyone, he said, should still be wearing face masks, wash hands continually, and practice social distancing.