DES MOINES, Iowa – Beginning Monday, Polk County will require masks for all staff and visitors in Polk County buildings. COVID cases continue to spike in Polk County with a 65 percent increase in daily cases over the last seven days. Polk County reminds residents that the COVID-19 vaccination remains the safest and most effective way to prevent illness. The county states until the community reaches at least a 75 percent vaccination rate and drops back into the moderate transmission rate category, the mask requirement will remain in place.
“These measures are a direct result of not enough individuals in our community getting vaccinated. As long as there is a substantial pool of unvaccinated individuals COVID has an opportunity to mutate and cause unnecessary hospitalizations and deaths,” Polk County Board of Supervisors Chair Angela Connolly said.
Polk County has initiated a series of incentive campaigns to help reach our community vaccination rate. With the Iowa State Fair starting on Thursday, Polk County encourages those who are planning to visit the fair to do so safely by getting vaccinated for COVID-19. To help encourage a safe fair environment Polk County will again hold COVID-19 State Fair give-away clinics next week at the Polk County Health Department.
The clinics will be held Monday, August 9th through Thursday, August 12th from 12-7 PM at the Polk County Health Department (1907 Carpenter Ave). Those who attend the clinic will receive two free state fair tickets and a voucher for a meal at that day’s designated on-site food truck.
The extra clinics and expanded hours are an attempt to get as many residents as possible vaccinated ahead of the Iowa State Fair and the return of in-person learning.
Polk County also announced the latest $50,000 recipient of the COVID-19 lottery. Twenty-one-year-old Zachary Brandon of Des Moines was notified and collected his prize at a check presentation at the Polk County Administration building on Friday afternoon. A $5,000 scholarship and ten $1,000 prizes were also awarded.
Two more weekly drawings remain in the lottery incentive including one more $50,000 prize. Polk County residents who have received at least one dose of vaccine are eligible to register at ImmunizePolk.org.
