Wednesday marks one week since classes began at Wartburg College and COVID-19 cases have spiked. As of Wednesday morning the college is reporting 42 positive cases, 44 students are in isolation and 82 are being quarantined. The school has suspended all sports practices for sports not in season.
The Wartburg numbers have contributed to the Bremer County 7 Day positivity rate increasing to 34.18%. The 14 day rate has eclipsed 15% which is a benchmark designated by Governor Reynolds.
Bremer County Health Department administrator Lindley Sharp talks about the spread in Bremer County.
Sharp says even though Wartburg students can be contained on campus the staff at the college is not.
Sharp says because of the 15% positivity rate districts can begin to adjust how they do school though most still have low absentee rates at this time. Long term care facilities now have to go back to the more restrictive practices they used toward the beginning of the pandemic.