Corridor DJ among first Iowans to fall ill from COVID-19

A Corridor entrepreneur and one of Johnson County’s first COVID-19 cases is the first local resident to speak out about his illness, an apparent case of community spread as the coronavirus epidemic begins to take a human toll in the business community and beyond. Don Morrison, of Iowa City-based Star Entertainment, announced on Facebook and his business site Tuesday that he was one of 29 Iowans and counting to contract the coronavirus. Mr. Morrison, who DJs frequently in the area, took ill March 13, suffering from a headache and mild cough. By the next day, according to a company statement, the headache was severe, and he had difficulty getting out of bed. After being tested at University of Iowa Health Care for flu and respiratory illnesses, he ultimately tested positive for coronavirus and was admitted to a hospital isolation unit. “We have no idea where Don may have contracted the virus, as he does not know of anyone that he has been in contact with that was ill or showing symptoms,” Star Entertainment said in its statement. “Don was not out in public once he began having symptoms. However, it is possible that he contracted the virus at any point up to two weeks prior to showing symptoms.” While much is still unknown about the coronavirus, one of the most recent estimates of its median incubation period is just over five days, according to Science Daily. About 97.5% of people who develop symptoms will do so within 11.5 days of infection. Mr. Morrison and his partner, LaShelle, are at home in isolation for the recommended time period. According to the company statement, Mr. Morrison is improving, but still very ill, although the statement adds as a sufferer of rheumatoid arthritis, he was at higher risk due to taking immune suppressant medication. Linn County Public Health has also recommended that patrons and employees of the Longbranch Restaurant and Bar in Cedar Rapids, which hired Mr. Morrison on the Friday nights of March 6 and 13, self-isolate for 14 days as a precaution, news partner KCRG-TV9 reports. Adjacent hotel or health club users are not recommended to self-isolate unless they went to the restaurant and bar on those nights. “We hope that all our customers and clients know that we would never purposefully put anyone at risk, and we are just as concerned and worried about this pandemic as you,” Star Entertainment said.