A top state public health official confirmed an additional COVID-19 outbreak at a meatpacking plant in Storm Lake. Reisetter, deputy director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, announced at the governor’s Thursday news conference that 555 of 2,517 employees at a Tyson Foods meat processing plant in Storm Lake tested positive for COVID-19. Reisetter noted businesses are not required to report outbreaks to the state, even though guidance from IDPH in April asked businesses to “please report” if 10% or more of the employees showed COVID-19 symptoms.
Heritage Specialty Care is now officially recovered from an outbreak of COVID-19, meaning they haven’t had a new positive COVID-19 case linked to the facility in nearly a month. Heritage was the first long term care facility in the county to experience an outbreak and among the first three in the state. 114 residents and staff tested positive for COVID-19 during the outbreak and 26 residents died from the virus.
City buildings in Cedar Rapids are staying closed for the entire month of July, according to a press release from city officials Thursday morning. Officials say services to the public are still operational and available either online or via phone or email. City officials continue to evaluate safety and public service needs, and plan to implement a phased approach to reopening.
Meanwhile, the Linn County Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday to extend the telework policy for designated employees through August 31. About a quarter of county employees are able to work remotely. Most Linn County offices remain closed to the public until June 15.
As the Iowa legislature gets set to reconvene next Wednesday, two House Democrats are calling for an investigation into the state’s $26 million Test Iowa program, which provides drive-thru coronavirus testing at several locations across the state. State Representatives Ruth Ann Gaines of Des Moines and Chris Hall of Sioux City, wrote a letter to the chair of the House Government Oversight committee asking for a hearing to investigate the program. There are 10 Test Iowa sites across the state, plus one Test Iowa clinic. Hall and Gaines request officials from the state and the NomiHealth company to testify in front of the committee. The Democrats say they will seek to review the contract and its implementation during the budget-writing process if Republicans don’t call for an investigation.
The Cedar Falls Recreation and Fitness Center is canceling all swimming lessons this summer to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Anyone who has already registered will have a credit placed on their account. Starting Monday, the fitness center will be opening for adult lap swimming. Adult lap swimming will run through August 9 and is only for people 18 years or older. No one under the age of 18 will be allowed to enter the pool facilities. Mayor Rob Green will give us an update on the city’s reopening of facilities and today’s Cedar Falls high school senior cruise during the 9 a.m. hour of KXEL Live & Local today.
We told you earlier this week about one grocery store working with the state to hand out free face masks…now comes word that Boone-based Fareway stores is partnering with the Iowa Governor’s office and the Iowa Department of Public Health to distribute masks to all 108 of their stores in Iowa…35,000 packages, each with five masks, are available.
Federal and local authorities are conducting an extensive search of a lot in an Evansdale neighborhood. Neighbors said officers were at the property at the end of Timber Oak Road on Wednesday and returned on Thursday. Digging equipment, a portable tent and crime scene officers were on the scene. Deputies with the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office referred inquiries to the FBI field office in Omaha. It appears to be related to the case of two missing persons from Arizona, tied to the arrest of a Waterloo resident this week.
First District Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Thursday asking the department to waive all fees associated with replacement of Economic Impact Payment debit cards. Economic Impact Payments were authorized by the CARES Act to help Americans through the COVID-19 crisis. While many Americans received payment via direct deposit, millions who did not have a bank account on file with the Department of Treasury or Internal Revenue Service were sent a debit card loaded with the amount of their economic impact payment. After the cards were mailed out last week, many Iowans spoke out to say they’d received a card but inadvertently thrown it away, believing it was junk mail or a scam. Fees for replacing the cards range from $7.50 to $17 depending on shipping options.
The PGA has cancelled the John Deere Classic due to the COVID-19 outbreak as professional sports struggle to resume play. The tournament was scheduled to take place July 9-12 in the Quad Cities and typically draws thousands of golf fans and others to Silvis, Illinois for the tournament. Last year, the tournament raised $13.8 million for 543 charitable organizations. Sources told ESPN a revised tournament schedule does not include the John Deere Classic due to restrictions in Illinois that will limit gatherings to 50 people. It was originally planned to be the first PGA event with spectators.
