The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been notified of 66 additional positive cases of Iowans with COVID-19, for a total of 614 positive cases. According to IDPH, two additional deaths were reported; 2 older adults (61-80) of Linn County. Among the new cases…1 in Black Hawk, 9 in Linn, 4 in Johnson…and the first confirmed case in Bremer. Despite those numbers, state epidemiologist Dr. Caitlyn Pedati says Iowans are listening to the advice of state officials.
Iowa Workforce Development says 58,453 people filed for unemployment in Iowa between last week…more than 100,000 people have filed in the past two weeks. The increase is due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nationally, more than 6.6 million people filed for unemployment benefits last week. A total of $13.7 million in employment insurance benefits were paid for the week ending on March 27. Not surprisingly, a majority of the claims are from people in the accommodation and food services industry.
Gov. Kim Reynolds faced questions yesterday over her order extending the time many businesses and schools would remain closed through the end of the month, and she defended her incremental approach as being the best way to handle the rapidly changing situation.
The John Deere Foundry Operation in Waterloo said one of its employees has tested positive for COVID-19. A Deere statement says the employee notified the company of the case on Wednesday, but had not been to work since March 20. The company says it alerted co-workers of potential interaction with the affected employee…now those individuals are on self-quarantine.
Officials in southern Iowa say hundreds of people gathered yesterday in Wayne County for a horse auction being held on private property, despite a state order limiting gatherings to fewer than 10 people. The Midwest Trotting Horse Sale was held yesterday near Seymour on the property of Ura Gingerich, after having first been postponed earlier in the month. The Wayne County Health Department set up checkpoints on the property to screen people before they could enter. Officials say at least one carload of people was sent away after being questioned as part of the screening. The county health officials say they counted nearly 500 people attending the auction.
Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered that schools, non-essential businesses and non-essential medical procedures remain closed through April 30. This is in keeping with the federal government’s suggestion. While schools will remain closed for at least another month, Reynolds also said it is important that school districts do their part in providing continuous learning opportunities. She added that since school districts know best what will work for their students, those decisions will be made locally by districts. School districts will be required to select the best continuous learning options for their students, and inform the state of that decision by a week from today. School districts that decide not to provide continuous learning will be required to make up the instructional time lost beyond what has been waived by the legislature. However, at this time, she is NOT ordering schools to close for the remainder of the school year. More and more Democrats are calling for her to issue a “stay at home” order, but the Governor says that’s not different than what she’s already done.
Iowa House and Senate leadership announced today the suspension of the legislative session will be extended until at least April 30. This decision follows Governor Kim Reynolds’ recommendation that schools remain closed until April 30.
The University of Northern Iowa requested no increase in room and board rates for the next academic year at a Board of Regents meeting Wednesday, as part of an effort to make higher education affordable for students and their families. The request follows a rising trend of students choosing to live on campus. Officials claim students who live on campus earn better grades and are more likely to graduate.
Mount Vernon Police have charged a 39-year-old man with second-degree sexual abuse…around 4 p.m. Wednesday, officers from Lisbon and Mount Vernon responded to a reported sexual assault at the Nature Park. When officers arrived, they saw two men in the park. Officers later met with a 20-year-old who claimed to be assaulted; the person went to the hospital and was later released. Officers then arrested Dustin Platner of Marion. Anyone who may have been at the park at the time is asked to call Mount Vernon police.
Iowa State coaches and other athletic department staff members are getting pay cuts for one year to help offset lost revenue from the coronavirus pandemic. Athletic director Jamie Pollard wrote on the Cyclones’ website that his department faces a $5 million shortfall this year because of the cancellation of the NCAA and Big 12 men’s basketball tournaments. The payroll cut will save more than $3 million. There also will be a temporary suspension of bonuses for coaches totaling another $1 million.
