COVID-19 Information
This page was last updated on April 25, 2022.
We’re here to help answer your questions about preventing the spread of COVID-19 on the farm. If you don’t find the answers here, please reach out to us at cph-greatplainscenter@uiowa.edu.
Now in the third year of the pandemic, U.S. health and safety professionals are still responding to the needs of the public and workers to recommend protection against the 2019 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), the infectious agent causing COVID-19. Personnel in the Great Plains Center of Agricultural Health have been providing guidance to employers, health care systems, public health workers, and the public at large. Citizens across the GPCAH region have responded by adopting the highly effective, best practices that incorporate vaccination, physical distancing, handwashing, and frequent disinfection of high-touch areas at home and throughout the community.
COVID-19 cases are once again increasing in the United States (as of 4/22/22), driven by the newest variant, Omicron subvariant BA.2. At this stage of the pandemic, it is important to stay up to date on the current situation and to continue to follow recommendations for best practices to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as local health departments, have many resources on COVID-19 prevention. We provided links to current resources with descriptions below in the Resources section.
This website also contains resources that were assembled over the last two years to provide guidance to agricultural workers. We have archived older resources, for reference, which can be accessed through the links below in the Archived Resources section.
Resources
Click on the following links to access helpful COVID-19 resources.
COVID-19 Community Levels
The CDC developed a new tool, COVID-19 Community Levels, to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest COVID-19 data. Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. With their COVID-19 County Check tool, you can find community levels in your county, or any county you may be traveling to, and then take prevention steps based on recommendations for that level.
CDC: Know Your COVID-19 Community Level (COVID-19 County Check)
Quarantine and Isolation
If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have COVID-19, it is important to care for yourself and protect other people in your home and community by following recommendations for quarantine and isolation. The CDC has developed a helpful online tool to help you determine when to get tested, and how long you need to isolate, quarantine, and/or wear a mask.
CDC: Quarantine and Isolation Calculator
Vaccination
For the best protection against severe outcomes related to COVID-19, it is recommended that everyone aged 5 years and older stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. The link below has information on the safety and efficacy of vaccines, how to stay up to date with recommended boosters, and how to find a COVID-19 vaccine. It is important to realize that vaccinations have been shown to reduce the severity of COVID symptoms but may not prevent development of COVID if exposed to the virus.
CDC: Your COVID-19 Vaccination
Understanding variants
Viruses constantly change through mutations as they spread and sometimes this results in a new variant. During this pandemic, we have seen new variants cause surges in new cases (Delta, Omicron). The links provided here have information on the most current variant, Omicron BA.2, circulating in the United States.
SARS-CoV-2 Variant Classifications and Definitions
UIHC- What you need to know about COVID-19 subvariant BA.2
Prevention Strategies
It is important to remember we have multiple strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. Especially with cases increasing yet again, we need to make sure we follow recommendations for vaccination, physical distancing, handwashing, staying home when sick, and wearing masks in crowded, indoor spaces. A multi-layered approach is highly recommended for persons who are immunocompromised or otherwise high-risk, even if vaccinated. This approach is also recommended for those who share a household or come in close contact with those who are unvaccinated, immunocompromised, or otherwise high-risk. The video below explains the importance of a layered approach for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
UIHC YouTube video: Why Swiss cheese may be the key to keeping you safe from COVID-19
Archived Resources
Click here to reference any past COVID-19 guidance. We have included GPCAH resources that are no longer being updated. These resources, developed before the widespread availability of effective vaccines, include COVID-19 prevention posters (English and Spanish versions) and videos on cloth face coverings, symptom screening, the COVID-19 timeline, and the hierarchy of controls. We have also included in this section our FAQ pages on both COVID-19 and COVID-19 Vaccines, both of which were last updated on December 21, 2021. The GPCAH is still monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and will provide updated guidance as needed. If you have questions regarding COVID-19, please send an email to cph-greatplainscenter@uiowa.edu.
Additional Information
Click the links below for more information about COVID-19.
Regional State Departments of Health and Extension Offices