Polk County officials encourage residents to wear face masks. | Pixabay
Polk County officials encourage residents to wear face masks. | Pixabay
Health care and county officials in Polk County said they know what's caused a surge in COVID-19 cases, and they have a plan to knock it down.
This comes as hospitalizations related to the virus have reached a "critical stage." Just last week, hospitalizations in Polk County jumped from 115 on Monday to 153 on Friday. Officials believe community spread is the culprit.
"We are asking the citizens of Polk County to embrace and consistently to sue public health measures to help us control the surge," Polk County Health Director Helen Eddy told KCCI.
Eddy also stressed the importance of wearing masks when out in public, staying home when sick, washing your hands often and getting a flu shot.
Health experts said with a limited number of resources and staff, the spread happening in the community could be transmitted to health care workers, which will likely impact the kind of care people receive at medical facilities.
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