Lang
9/15/23
City of Iowa City officials are warning residents about a rise in COVID-19 cases.
Along with COVID, there has also been a local and national rise in cases of RSV and influenza. City health official say the best ways to limit exposure and spread of such viruses are long-known practices that you can do any day, including:
- Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
- Getting flu shots or COVID-19 boosters.
- Up-to-date flu recommendations are availablefrom the CDC’s website.
- For adults, the CDC has informationon recommended vaccines.
- Limiting contact with others as much as possible if you are sick to keep from infecting them.
- Covering coughs and sneezes.
- Washing your handsoften with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with viruses that cause flu..
Residents can also wear a mask.
For the flu, the CDC recommends that people stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone except to get medical care or other necessities. The fever should be gone without the need to use a fever-reducing medicine.
For COVID-19, the CDC recommends isolating at least five days from when people start feeling sick. If they never feel sick, isolate for five days starting from when the positive test was taken. Mask-wearing for the following five days is suggested when in public. After five days, you may leave your home if you are feeling better and have not had a fever for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medicine like Tylenol or ibuprofen. When you leave your home you should wear a mask all the time for the next five days.
For the latest information on COVID-19 in Johnson County, visit the JCPH’s COVID-19 page. Learn more about the similarities and differences between the flu and COVID-19 at the CDC’s website.
For more information about RSV, visit the CDC’s website. JCPH is encouraging residents to reach out to their healthcare provider for a vaccine if they are adults who are 60+. All children younger than 8 months are recommended to receive Nirsevimab to protect them in their first RSV season.