As community cases spike, UI Health Care urges all to double down on COVID-19 safety precautions

While the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations remains stable, University of Iowa Health Care has seen a rapid uptick in the number of people seeking screening via telehealth and visits to the Respiratory Illness Clinic, with more people testing positive for COVID.

“This recent increase is a serious situation and an important reminder that COVID-19 won’t end until everyone in the community follows necessary safety practices, no matter how inconvenient they may be,” says Suresh Gunasekaran, MBA, chief executive officer, UI Hospitals & Clinics and associate vice president, UI Health Care. “Everyone must work together to keep our families, friends, and colleagues safe and healthy.”

Those experiencing symptoms of COVID (fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, etc.) are encouraged to use UI Health Care’s online COVID-19 symptom checker, schedule a telehealth video visit online, or call 1-800-777-8442.

UI Health Care urges all members of the public - especially those in the 18-25 year old population, which represent the majority of recent positive cases - to practice these simple steps to prevent COVID-19 transmission.