From Marshall County Public Health:

As of March 15, Marshall County recorded its highest number of Covid 19 cases to date, with 21 new cases reported, for a total of 65 positive tests.  The Marshall County Public Health staff is currently investigating each case and checking with their household contacts to see if any are also showing symptoms. It is important to track if there is any link among the positive cases.  The investigation is ongoing and information is not yet complete.

“When cases of COVID-19 first began being reported in Iowa, they were related to travel outside the state,” said Marshall County Public Health Director, Pat Thompson. “Now, however, there is widespread community transmission. This means the virus is spreading from person-to-person, and often without known contact with a positive case.”

Iowa Code Chapter 22 prohibits the release of information that could lead to the identification of an individual or facility. Marshall County Public Health is following Iowa law by not releasing information such as the town where an individual lives. Some states have different confidentiality laws; regardless, information related to where an individual lives or has visited is not essential in protecting the public’s health during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

COVID-19 is circulating widely in the state and in our county. A resident’s chance of being exposed to the virus is high, regardless of contact with a confirmed case. This is why all residents are advised to stay home as much as possible, and when they must leave for essential errands like groceries or to get medication, they maintain a 6-foot distance from other individuals and avoid groups of people. This is because the risk of exposure to the virus is NOT limited to exposure to a known case; you could just as easily be exposed to an undiagnosed individual who is at the grocery store.