The Des Moines County Public Health Department has opened a “virtual” emergency operations center (EOC) to serve as the centralized command and control for the area’s response to COVID-19.
The EOC will receive and distribute COVID-19 related information. They will also assist area emergency responders and health care agencies with supply acquisitions related to the virus.
The EOC is open in conjunction with the Des Moines County Emergency Management Agency and Great River Health Systems.
Iowa is experiencing a surge in new positive cases of the coronavirus with 56 new cases and two additional deaths, public health officials reported Friday.
Iowa now has 235 positive cases, including cases in Des Moines and Henry Counties, and three deaths.
The Department of Public Health identified the latest deaths as an adult over the age of 81 in Poweshiek County and an Allamakee County resident between 61 and 80 years old. Both died Thursday night.
Public health officials said 32 Iowa residents are hospitalized. The virus now has been found in 46 of Iowa's 99 counties.
The most recent cases mark the largest single-day increase. On Thursday the state reported 34 new cases.