QC COVID Coalition says current surge is a “tsunami”

The Quad Cities COVID-19 Coalition is addressing the area's continued rise in coronavirus cases.

During a virtual press conference Tuesday afternoon, the coalition addressed the area’s dramatic increase in cases, the challenge of contact tracing, holiday gathering guidelines and the return of a free COVID-19 testing site Moline.

At the start of the virtual meeting Rock Island County Health Department Administrator Nita Ludwig reported the latest numbers for Rock Island County, which included 145 new cases of COVID-19 giving the county a total of 7,023. There are currently 72 patients hospitalized, which surpasses the prior high of 65 that was reported on Friday. Deaths due to COVID-19 remain at 117 in county.

Edward Rivers, the Scott County Health Department Director, reported the total cases in Scott County as 8,886, with a death total of 61. Rivers went on to describe the current surge as an “explosion” of cases with Scott County logging a recent average of 300 each day. In comparison, the county had a total case load of 321 as we entered the month of June.

County health officials on both sides of the Mississippi admitted that contact tracing is always difficult but especially so in the current environment. Because of the “tsunami of cases”, Rivers said Scott County made the difficult decision to turn the majority of contact tracing services over to the Iowa Department of Public Health. Residents who test positive can expect to be receiving a phone call from IDPH. Ludwig said that Rock Island County Health Department will continue to do local contact tracing and stressed the importance of answering the telephone and cooperating with the process.

Ludwig also announced that the Illinois Department of Public Health will be bringing back a free testing site to the Quad Cities at the TaxSlayer Center Saturday and Sunday, December 5th and 6th. The testing site will be open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM both days.

The QC COVID Coalition also spent part of the meeting sharing guidance on gatherings during upcoming holiday season. Residents are encouraged to celebrate the holidays with people in their own household. Leave large family gatherings for when the COVID-19 risk is much lower. The QC COVID Coalition’s Together Quad Cities website has additional detailed guidance regarding holiday gatherings, travel, and shopping.


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