(Mason City) –  The call center will be open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and can be reached at (641) 494-3546 and (641) 494-3547.

“Many agencies are receiving a large number of calls from people seeking guidance on how to prepare for or prevent the spread of COVID-19,” stated Director of Public Health, Brian Hanft. “Opening the call center will relieve the organizations and connect the public with resources and information to address concerns and questions.”

The opening of the call center follows the Governor’s Disaster proclamation. Currently, there are 13 cases of COVID-19 in Iowa total. All are recovering at home in isolation.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Those most at risk of the virus are older adults, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.

While the general risk to the public in Iowa is still considered low, it is important to continue to follow standard precautions to prevent the spread of infectious disease. To prevent the spread of any virus including novel coronavirus, practice these preventative measures:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water – at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

Additional information and guidance on COVID-19 is available at CG Public Health’s website (cghealth.com)

A status report of monitoring and testing of COVID-19 in Iowa provided by IDPH can be found at https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus. For more information about COVID-19, please visit CG Public Health’s website at cghealth.com. Follow CG Public Health on Facebook and Twitter (@CGPublicHealth).

For the latest local information on COVID-19 visit www.KGLOnews.com