Marshall County Public Health Nurse Lisa Letsinger told the county commissioners Monday morning that Health Department officials are urging residents to do what they can to prevent the spread of illness this winter season. She added that they are doing what they can to stay on top information surrounding the coronavirus.
“I’m on bi-weekly calls with the State getting updates on what’s going on around the country with coronavirus,” said Letsinger. “Of course right now there’s no vaccine and there’s no anti-viral medications that work on this particular virus.”
Letsinger noted that there were no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the state as of Friday and added that travel alerts are in place.
“Travelers are screened. If they return back to counties and they feel they’re at risk, then the State requires a 14-day monitoring period for those folks where they do respond with any symptoms they may have or disrespond in general with their temperature twice daily.”
According to the World Health Organization, common signs of coronavirus infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and kidney failure.
Letsinger said she’s been in contact with Troy Heckaman with Culver Academies as many of their students travel to the campus from many areas of the world. Students there were to travel to Italy and Letsinger has given students and staff all of the pertinent information to make an educated decision.
She urges residents not to travel to countries where there is a high concentration of illness. If you have traveled to these areas and suspect you may have contracted the coronavirus, it will be handled by the State.
Letsinger commented, “Testing right now is going through the State so if there would be a suspect they would need to be put in a negative pressure room, get approval from the State for testing and then proceed with the State guidance.”
Marshall County Maintenance Director Doug Masterson is being proactive in helping to disinfect the county offices to keep down the spread of viruses.
“I’ve already ordered two cases of hand sanitizer with alcohol,” stated Masterson. “The disinfectant we’re using is a hospital, surgical room-type disinfectant that kills everything. Anybody who thinks they might need it – sometimes we have the public that comes in that may be under the weather. We’re going to hand it out to every office and hopefully they use them – with gloves.”
Letsinger stressed that frequent hand washing for 20 seconds or more is the best practice to keep down the risk of contracting the flu.
The county’s emergency plan will be reviewed in this matter just to keep in a proactive state.
