Officials Say About 20 Percent Of Dickinson County’s Population Has Been Tested So Far For COVID-19

(Spirit Lake)– Even though a Test Iowa Clinic has been in Spirit Lake since mid to late June, officials say that only about 20 percent of Dickinson county’s population has been tested for COVID-19 so far. Jennifer Gustafson of Lakes Regional Healthcare says that was the case as of Friday…Testing Numbers01 

“We’ve given like 3,629 tests. That’s one in five residents. So that’s something also to make note, roughly 20 percent of our Dickinson county residents have been tested, so that means 80 percent of our county have not been tested. So we expect that there are probably more cases that have been positive out there than what’s reported just because 80 percent of people have not been tested, but you never know.”

Gustafson says the numbers at the Test Iowa Clinic are higher due to the fact people from neighboring counties are also being tested there.

Gustafson adds the rate of hospitalizations remains low locally. She says as of Friday two people were hospitalized with COVID-19 at Lakes Regional Healthcare. She a cumulative of eight Dickinson county residents have been hospitalized with the virus since the pandemic started…Testing Numbers02 

“Which is only 2.3 percent of all positive cases so far, so basically most people have mild to no symptoms.”

Health officials are quick to point out however that is no reason to let your guard down.

Due to the continued low rate of hospitalizations, Gustafson says Lakes Regional Healthcare is continuing to urge those with other healthcare needs to get them taken care of…Testing Numbers03 

“I know that we want people who have kind of postponed certain types of preventative measures or you know things like mammograms and colonoscopies, we really would suggest they come in to get those taken care of. You know it’s not going to do them any favors by postponing that and waiting, so. And it is safe to come in here and do that. We take every precaution. People wear masks, they’re assessed at the door regarding their possible symptoms, their temperature, everything, and it’s sanitized all the time here so it’s very safe to come in the hospital and receive those types of services.”

A reminder that as we reported Friday, the Test Iowa Clinic in Spirit Lake will remain up and running through the month of August.

As of this (Monday) morning, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Dickinson county since the pandemic started was at 357. Health officials say 237 of those have recovered, meaning there were 120 active cases in the county.