(Radio Iowa) — With the coronavirus moving academic life online, some researchers are shifting their work to benefit health care workers. Madeline Jensen is a University of Iowa graduate student studying sustainable water development. Her research typically focuses on chemical compounds known as PFAS (PEE-faas), but Jensen says those studies aren’t considered critical right now. “That research I pretty much had to stop when the university shut down and I could only work on reading papers about it and writing what I could on it,” Jensen says.

However, since a U-I official approached her lab, Jensen has been working to create air filters for personal protective equipment like masks. This could better safeguard health care workers from breathing in tiny particles that may carry the virus. U-I Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering David Cwiertny says his students usually make filtration devices to take pollutants out of drinking water. They’re adapting to fit with the current crisis, Cwiertny says, as anyone who does research looks for ways their work can help society. Cwiertny says, “What we’re trying to do here is, if there’s an opportunity for us to contribute our expertise and help, rather than just sitting on the sidelines, when we would take that opportunity to see what we can do.”

Cwiertny says normally he’d have about a dozen people in the lab, but now there’s just two to take proper precautions against COVID-19.

(Reporting by Katie Peikes, Iowa Public Radio)

Officials with Greater Regional Health, in Creston, said Thursday, a case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been confirmed in Union County. The patient is between thee ages of 61-and 80, and is self-isolating at home with their spouse. Union County Public Health Nurse, Robin Sevier says “While this is Union County’s first case, it may not be the last, and that’s why we encourage all residents to continue to make prevention a priority.”

Recommended prevention activities :

• Stay home as much as possible. Leave only for essential errands like groceries or getting medication. When you run these errands, send only one person from the household, if possible.
• Stay home when even mildly ill (the kind of illness that normally wouldn’t prevent you from your everyday activities)
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow/upper arm.
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

(Updated 9:20-a.m.) Firefighters from Shenandoah were dispatched at around 4-p.m. Thursday to a wooden bridge fire. Upon arrival, crews found heavy smoke and flames engulfing the Wabash Trace bridge over the East Nishnabotna river, on the north side of Shenandoah. According to a post on the department’s social media page, crews were able to extinguish the fire and were on scene for approximately two hours.

The Wabash Trace organization posted on social media, that over 50′ of the bridge will have to be completely torn off and rebuilt. Officials say there is no thru access, so trail users will have to cautiously use Highway 59 as a detour. Work on repairing the bridge will begin as soon as possible. If you would like to donate towards the repair, please visit www.wabashtrace.org/contribute and make a note in the memo, or you may mail a check to P.O. Box 581, Shenandoah, IA, 51601.

Photos via the Shenandoah Fire Department Facebook page.

The Page County Sheriff’s department, Page County EMA, and several members of the Wabash trace assisted Shenadoah Fire at the scene. The cause of the fire remained undetermined and was under investigation.