Polk County will require masks for all staff and visitors in Polk County buildings
Published 8/6/2021 4:16:25 PM
Polk County to Require Masks in Polk County Buildings
Additional $50,000 COVID-19 lottery winner announced, State Fair vaccination incentives continue
Des Moines, IA- Beginning Monday, August 9 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% increase in daily cases over the last seven days. Vaccination remains the safest and most effective way to prevent illness. However, until our community reaches at least a 75% vaccination rate and drops back into the moderate transmission rate category, masks will remain an effective tool in reducing our collective risk of hospitalizations and death, particularly in our unvaccinated population of children.
Polk County Board of Supervisors Chair Angela Connolly said “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 has initiated a series of incentive campaigns to help reach our community vaccination rate. With the State Fair right around the corner, Polk County encourages those who are planning to visit the fair 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 12-7PM at the Polk County Health Department (1907 Carpenter Ave). Those who attend the clinic will receive 2 free state fair tickets and a voucher for a meal at that days designated on-site food truck.
The move comes as COVID-19 cases continue to rise throughout Iowa and in Polk County. 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.
Winner Announced: Polk County is also pleased to announce 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. Any Polk County residents who have received at least one dose of vaccine is eligible to register at ImmunizePolk.org.