Hamilton County health officials said Tuesday morning that there are still no positive COVID-19 tests in the county.

The weekly briefing by officials with Hamilton County Public Health, Van Diest Medical Center and Emergency Management was presented at the start of a special Board of Supervisors meeting.

Public Health Administrator Shelby Kroona also talked about social distancing. She said there were a number of phone calls at her office about services that were not being closed.

“The governor did close barbershops and hair salons. I understand that there maybe only two people in the shop, but those businesses are supposed to be closed,” Kroona said.

She also said that with social distancing, it was not appropriate for people to be holding play dates for their children or allowing groups of teens to get together.

“I get that it’s really hard to keep kids separated, and it’s easy to think it’s only 3 or 4 kids coming over to watch a movie,” she said. “But in this time that we are trying to prevent the spread of this disease, the only people who should be in your home are your family members.”

Kroona said the additional 30 days of isolation that President Trump called for earlier this week will be challenging to most families, but the social isolation is important to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep everyone healthy, especially the immune-compromised and the elderly.

“If you look at the numbers from Monday, Linn County numbers just exploded with a huge number of new positive tests,” she said. “Part of that was related to a nursing home.”

Kroona said if the virus got into local nursing homes, it could spread “like wildfire.”

“Those people are very vulnerable to this,” she said. “I can’t stress social distancing enough.”

The administrator said other calls to her office concerned symptom management. Many of those calling in do not have a primary care physician to advise them. Now those people are concerned about having signs and symptoms.

“I encourage everyone to locate a primary physician. It may be difficult to get established with one right now.

“If you do use the hospital emergency room, please call ahead, don’t just show up at the ER. You need to call ahead and talk about your symptoms,” she said.

Kroona said there had been a few tests given to people in Hamilton County who have fit the criteria for testing. Public Health and VDMC are both following the Centers for Disease Control guidelines concerning testing requirements. She urged the public to continue using good handwashing practices, to cover their coughs and sneezes, maintain social distancing and some social isolation.

“Keep your family healthy and in your home for the next 30 days,” she said.

Carla Johnson, infection prevention nurse with VDMC, said that the testing guidelines had changed somewhat recently. She said anybody who comes in that is hospitalized, of any age, with fever or respiratory illness; older adults over 60 with fever and respiratory symptoms, immumo-compromised conditions; and people of any age with fever or respiratory conditions who live in congregate settings, like long-term care facilities, dorms or correctional facilities, and health care workers and any essential services personnel.

Johnson reiterated the need for social distancing, giving the example of the hospital cafeteria which had downsized from many tables in the dining room to just a few tables spread out around the room.

“We’re trying to encourage that at every level,” she said. The dietary department at VDMC has moved to using disposable containers for meals to keep the staff and patients healthy.

Kroona said the community-based team of health care professionals meets on a weekly basis to coordinate and plan.

“That team is working very hard in all aspects of the community to keep community members safe,” she said.

Emergency Management Director Tim Zahn the county did receive a shipment of masks over the weekend, though the order was greatly reduced from what was requested. He said he had requested 1,500 standard face masks and 2,500 N95 masks. What was received as 500 standard masks and 240 N95 masks.

“Part of the reason for that is we don’t have any positive cases yet,” he said. “They are just redirecting it to where it’s needed.”