Help Us Promote and Improve the Health of All Who Live, Learn, Work and Play in Sioux County!
Your voice matters! Help determine the priorities that will promote health in our communities. Take our brief Community Health Assessment survey today – it’s confidential and will take about 15 minutes to complete.
Radon is a natural radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell, or taste but could be present at a dangerous level in your home. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the U.S. and the first leading cause among non-smokers. You can’t tell if there is radon in your home unless you test for it. If a high radon level is detected, you can take steps to fix it to protect yourself and your family.
Because of our soil composition, Iowa has the highest average radon concentration of any state in the U.S., with 7 of 10 homes having a radon concentration above 4pCi/L, which is considered too high by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Residents of Sioux County should be keenly aware of radon and the dangers it poses since average Sioux County levels are much higher even than the state of Iowa:
United States average: 1.3 pCi/L
Iowa average: 8.5 pCi/L
Sioux County average: 10.3 pCI/L
High levels of radon can be found in any type of home, old or new. Testing your home for radon is simple and inexpensive and should be done every 3-4 years. It is best to test during winter months when doors and windows are kept closed. Commit to test your home this month.
Radon test kits are available for $10 at the Community Health Partners (CHP) office in Orange City (705 Hwy 10 W) and at most city offices throughout Sioux County. You can also purchase a kit from CHP’s website at www.siouxcountychp.org and it will be mailed to your house. Directions are included in the kit. If test results show elevated radon levels, you should talk to a certified radon mitigation specialist. They will work with you to reduce the level of radon in your home.
For more information about radon or test kits, contact Community Health Partners of Sioux County:
The School Resource Officers (SROs) in Sioux County, together with Community Health Partners, the Sioux County Public Health Department, are excited to announce a “Go Bucket” initiative.
“Go Buckets” are emergency buckets filled with supplies that teachers and students may need if they are confined to a classroom for several hours for a lockdown or a severe weather event. This is a great way our community can work together to help our schools be prepared for emergencies as they not only educate but also protect our children. SRO’s have determined that there are approximately 675 classrooms in Sioux County schools.
We ask for your support in this initiative. If you would like to donate items for the “Go Buckets” a list of supplies can be found on Community Health Partners’ website at www.siouxcountychp.org. Monetary donations are also welcome to help purchase needed items. Donations and checks can be dropped off at the Sioux County Sheriff’s office or mailed to:
Sioux County Sheriff’s Office
Public Safety Center
4363 Ironwood Ave. Ste 1
Orange City, IA 51041
Checks can be made out to Sioux County Sheriff’s Office with “Go Bucket” in the memo line. Please make your donation by December 29.
This collaborative effort includes:
Sioux County Sheriff’s Office SROs – Deputy Waylon Pollema and Deputy Jessica Dorhout
Rock Valley Police Department SRO – Lt. Jeremy Spaans
Sioux Center Police Department SRO – Officer Kyle Munneke
Sioux County Community Health Partners
If you have any questions, please reach out to the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office (712-737-2280) or to one of the SROs in your community.
The School Resource Officers (SROs) in Sioux County, together with Community Health Partners, the Sioux County Public Health Department, are excited to announce a “Go Bucket” initiative.
“Go Buckets” are emergency buckets filled with supplies that teachers and students may need if they are confined to a classroom for several hours for a lockdown or a severe weather event. This is a great way our community can work together to help our schools be prepared for emergencies as they not only educate but also protect our children. SRO’s have determined that there are approximately 675 classrooms in Sioux County schools.
We ask for your support in this initiative. If you would like to donate items for the “Go Buckets” a list of supplies can be found on Community Health Partners’ website at www.siouxcountychp.org. Monetary donations are also welcome to help purchase needed items. Donations and checks can be dropped off at the Sioux County Sheriff’s office or mailed to:
Sioux County Sheriff’s Office
Public Safety Center
4363 Ironwood Ave. Ste 1
Orange City, IA 51041
Checks can be made out to Sioux County Sheriff’s Office with “Go Bucket” in the memo line. Please make your donation by December 29.
This collaborative effort includes:
Sioux County Sheriff’s Office SROs – Deputy Waylon Pollema and Deputy Jessica Dorhout
Rock Valley Police Department SRO – Lt. Jeremy Spaans
Sioux Center Police Department SRO – Officer Kyle Munneke
Sioux County Community Health Partners
If you have any questions, please reach out to the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office (712-737-2280) or to one of the SROs in your community.
Last night the Governor announced additional public health measures effective through December 10.
The measures are in response to the surge in cases and hospitalizations across Iowa. View the full proclamation here. A summary of new measures can be found below.
November 11, 2020
News release: for immediate release
Submitted by:
Sioux County healthcare leaders urge masking – including in churches Asking for public’s help in slowing the surge of COVID-19
Following Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ proclamation on November 10 regarding masking and indoor gatherings, the CEOs of the four Sioux County hospitals – along with Community Health Partners – are imploring all residents of Sioux County to help slow the spread of COVID-19 by adhering to gathering restrictions and mask requirements. Wearing masks in indoor public settings helps reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“We as a hospital and health system community implore each resident and visitor in Sioux County to follow the Governor’s proclamation requiring masking for indoor gatherings of 25 or more people,” stated the health system leaders, adding “Specifically, we urge every church to strongly consider voluntarily submitting to this protocol as well.”
According to the health system leaders, at least 15 Sioux County residents currently are hospitalized with the COVID-19 virus. Sioux County has had an additional 95 positive cases in the past two days. The county’s 14-day positivity rate (the percent of people testing positive among those tested) is now 29.4 percent.
“Sioux County is experiencing substantial community spread of COVID-19,” the health system leaders state. “The strain on the local healthcare systems and their employees is very real, and we need to keep our healthcare workers safe and available to care for those who need it.”
Governor Reynolds’ November 10 proclamation states that any social, community, recreational, leisure, or sports gathering or event of more than 25 people held indoors, or more than 100 people outdoors, is prohibited through November 30 unless all participants over the age of two wear masks at all times except while eating or drinking. Spiritual and religious gatherings are exempt from this prohibition; however, healthcare leaders are strongly urging Sioux County churches to voluntarily adopt the mask requirement for group gatherings through November 30.
During this very challenging time, health care leaders and CHP ask the faith community to help preserve our healthcare resources and slow the community spread of COVID-19 by strongly considering wearing masks in church.
COVID-19 continues to surge across the state with group gatherings being a major source of serious community spread. Today Governor Reynolds asked all Iowans to “consider how their choice to adhere to public health mitigation strategies impacts the spread of COVID-19 in their family and community.” The Governor signed a new proclamation imposing a number of additional public health measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. These new measures will be effective at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11 and will continue until 11:59 p.m. on November 30, 2020.
As cases of COVID-19 continue to surge with serious community spread, please consider how your actions will impact—or protect—others in the community. Please do all you can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 so we can protect our vulnerable community members, keep our students in school and our businesses open, and prevent overwhelming our health care systems.
Early detection could save your life. Get a free or low-cost breast and cervical cancer screening through the Care for Yourself Program. Cancer found early means early treatment. Earlier treatment can mean a better outcome.
Take an active role in your health, call today!
Worried about cost?
The Care for Yourself Program offers free or low-cost healthcare services to eligible individuals.
You may qualify if you:
• Are between the ages 40-64 years of age;
• Are under age 40 and have signs of breast cancer;
• Have a monthly income of $2,658 (net) or less;
*Add $934 for each additional household member
• Have no health insurance; or
• Have health insurance, but are unable to pay the co-payment or deductible; or
• Have health insurance but need help to make sure make sure you get screened
Siouxland District Health Department coordinates this program locally and across neighboring counties by providing enrollment and case management services. The actual screening services are provided at your own physician’s office, at the local hospitals in Sioux County, and at Promise Community Health Center.
The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has changed quarantine recommendations for people exposed to a positive case of COVID-19. Please note the following as you read:
• This new guidance applies to business, education and child-care setting exposures. It does NOT apply to exposures in household or health care settings. Household members of positive COVID-19 cases still need to quarantine for 14 days.
• Gaiters and face shields are not considered acceptable face coverings. See the CDC guidance for face coverings: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html
The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is making a change on quarantine recommendations for people that have been exposed to a positive case of COVID-19. This applies in non-healthcare, non-residential settings only. This includes businesses, education and child care settings.
Close contacts of COVID-positive cases will no longer need to quarantine for 14 days if a face covering was worn consistently and correctly by the positive case and close contacts. The positive case must isolate. The close contacts should self-monitor.
Self-monitoring entails close monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms over the subsequent 14 days, staying home if any symptoms develop, and speaking with a healthcare provider about COVID-19 testing in the case of any illness.
If people who are self-monitoring become ill but do not get tested, they should remain home until 10 days after symptom onset.
People currently in quarantine may be released from quarantine if a face covering was worn consistently and correctly by the positive case and close contacts during exposure.
If the positive case wore a face covering, but close contacts did not, those close contacts must be quarantined.
If the positive case did not wear a face covering, close contacts must quarantine whether or not they wore a face covering.
Quarantine of close contacts will still be necessary in residential and healthcare settings.
Masks are proven to be effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Increased mask use will reduce the number of individuals that need to quarantine. Along with wearing a face covering, we ask that everyone continue all recommended public health strategies:
Stay home when sick.
Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet whenever possible.
Wash hands frequently.
This approach is based on data and focused feedback from community and school leaders over the past month indicating that transmission is not frequently occurring when both parties are wearing face coverings consistently and correctly. Additionally, we are aware of other jurisdictions, including Nebraska and Wyoming, that have made similar changes based on experiences in their states. We will continue to make recommendations based on best available information and adjust when needed.
Sioux County is currently experiencing a number of additional COVID-19 cases. We urge every resident to take steps to protect the health of themselves and their families. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. Avoid gatherings. Stay at least six feet away from others at all times. Wear a mask or face covering when you have to be around others. Older people and those with underlying health conditions like heart problems, diabetes, or obesity are at increased risk of serious complications from this virus, so they should take extra precautions. If you’re sick, stay home.
Since there is no vaccine for this virus, you are the best weapon we have in slowing the spread of this disease.
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