Government : COVID-19 Numbers

At this point, the state of Iowa does not have a law concerning the wearing of masks. Some have contacted me asking me to remind people that it is the law, when in fact it is not. The wearing of masks is an attempt to help curtail the spread of COVID-19.

At this time, Benton County COVID numbers of active cases are lower than they were before the last peak at 46 cases currently.

Benton County has had a total of 157 cases since the beginning of March, with 101 recovered and 1 death in April.

In Region 6, which includes Benton County, there are currently 46 hospitalized, 14 in ICU, of those 5 are on ventilators.

Region 6 includes the counties of:

Allamakee, Benton, Blackhawk, Bremer. Buchanan, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette,

Grundy, Howard, Jones, Linn, Winneshiek

For perspective cities included in our region spiking our numbers in Region 6 include, Waterloo population 67,798, Cedar Rapids population 133,174, Dubuque population 97,311 compared to the whole of Benton County with a population of 25,645.

Of these counties, Dubuque has had 1,679 cases, Blackhawk 3,128, and Linn 2,389. Benton County has had 157.

11 in Benton County were tested and had already had the virus.

The wearing of masks and keeping a social distance of 6 feet while help slow the spread of COVID-19, which has been the idea. Slowing the spread will keep the hospitals from being overwhelmed. This however will not stop the virus.

In all, Benton County is doing well. Send the kids outside to play, (when the sun is out again), get that fresh air in them, eat healthy, get your sleep, and enjoy these last few days of summer vacation!