Linn County Public Health is recommending a phased reopening approach and has released guidance for businesses as additional establishments prepare to reopen. As part of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ most recent public health proclamation, restaurants, retail stores, tanning facilities, tattoo establishments and other selected businesses were permitted to reopen at 50 percent capacity starting on Friday, […]
Linn County Public Health
Posted inCommunity/News
As Linn County reopens, Cedar Rapids businesses decide how to move forward
As an owner of a small business, Ashleigh Derby has had to make decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic she couldn’t have imagined. “I would have never thought in a million years I’d have to make these decisions, ever. Let alone in the first year of being open,” said Derby, who owns Dot and Dash Boutique […]
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Businesses are faced with a tough decision as restrictions are relaxed in Linn County
After Gov. Kim Reynolds’ signed her most recent public health proclamation on Wednesday, certain Linn County businesses are faced with the decision on whether or not to reopen. As part of the proclamation, tanning salons, medical spas, campgrounds and drive-in movie theaters may reopen statewide. Dental procedures can resume, and golf course clubhouses can reopen […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Test Iowa site opening in Cedar Rapids on Thursday
Test Iowa is coming to Cedar Rapids earlier than expected. Originally, a soft opening was planned for May 11 and May 12, with full operations following that, but the timeline has been moved up. Test Iowa’s Cedar Rapids location will instead have a soft opening on Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8. The site […]
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Linn County reports increase in community spread of COVID-19; local officials preparing for a second wave of the virus
Linn County has seen an increase in community spread of COVID-19, Heather Meador, Linn County Public Health’s supervisor of Clinical Services, said during a press conference on Monday. More than half of the newly reported cases of the virus over the weekend were connected to community spread, according to Meador. “This is a clear indication […]
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Cases of COVID-19 reported at Cottage Grove Place retirement community in Cedar Rapids
A staff member and two residents in the nursing center at Cottage Grove Place, a retirement community in Cedar Rapids with both independent living units and skilled nursing care, tested positive for the virus last week, according to emails sent to family members of residents at the facility on April 22 and 24. Two weeks […]
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Ten cases of COVID-19 reported at ManorCare Health Services in Cedar Rapids
A third outbreak of COVID-19 at a long-term care facility in Linn County was reported on Thursday. ManorCare Health Services, a nursing home in Cedar Rapids, has 10 confirmed cases among its residents and staff, according to Linn County Public Health. Iowa currently has 12 long-term care facilities across the state experiencing outbreaks. The Iowa […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Linn County’s black and Latino residents are disproportionately testing positive for COVID-19
Linn County Public Health unveiled a new version of its COVID-19 website on Thursday, with a dashboard that displays up-to-date information on the total number of confirmed cases in the county, which can be viewed by zip code, age group, race and ethnicity. As of 1 p.m. on Thursday, there were 507 confirmed cases of […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Linn County confronts the ‘crisis within a crisis’ of worker safety, as the spread of COVID-19 at processing plants in other counties impacts its residents
Cedar Rapids Mayor Brad Hart began Monday’s Linn County Public Health press conference by urging residents to wear a cloth face mask whenever they go out “in public, if you’re outside your home, you’re outside your car or when social distancing is difficult to ensure.” “Cloth masks that cover your nose and your mouth should […]
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Deputy sheriff assigned to Linn County jail has tested positive for COVID-19
A deputy sheriff assigned to the Linn County Correctional Center has tested positive for COVID-19. The deputy sheriff last worked the evening shift on Thursday, April 16, and the Linn County Sheriff’s Office learned of the positive test on Sunday, April 19. The deputy arrived to work on Thursday without a fever but left with […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Cedar Rapids closes Gardner Golf Course and disc golf courses, as Linn County cases of COVID-19 reach 300
Linn County saw its first confirmed cases of COVID-19 on March 21, about two weeks after the first cases were confirmed in Iowa on March 8. Close to a month after the county’s first confirmed cases, Linn County has become a hotspot in Iowa and has more confirmed cases than any other county in the […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Linn County Public Health will hold a virtual town hall on staying mentally healthy during the pandemic
Linn County Public Health is hosting a virtual town hall on Friday about what people can do to improve their mental health during the pandemic and the resources available in the community. This is the second town hall in a series LCPH plans to hold every Friday Four speakers will be available to answer questions […]
