Memorial Day weekend activities can include a movie in a theatre or camping in a state campground, and there will be high school softball and baseball seasons. Gov Kim Reynolds on Wednesday signed a new proclamation continuing the state public health emergency declaration, but lifting some mitigation measures.

Movie theatres, zoos, aquariums and wedding reception venues may open effective Friday at 5 am, with public health measures (limited capacity, social distancing, hand hygiene) in place. Continue reading COVID-19 mitigation eased prior to holiday →

The Staley’s Chicken Dinner hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Jefferson has been postponed to Sunday, Aug. 30, due to issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tickets previously purchased will be honored that day.

There will be no Memorial Day commemorations at cemeteries across Iowa this year. Gov Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday that hair and nail salons, barbershops, campgrounds, and libraries across the state may reopen Friday at 5 am. Businesses in the 22 counties where COVID-19 restrictions were not relaxed May 1 will also be able to open on the same 50 percent capacity restrictions now in place in 77 counties.

However, Reynolds’ new proclamation extends through May 27 the prohibition against “social, community, recreational, leisure, and sporting gatherings and events of more than 10 people.” The proclamation specifically includes festivals, conventions and fundraisers. Memorial Day is May 25. Continue reading Reynolds says yes to haircuts, but no to Memorial Day events →

Reynolds in “modified quarantine” after COVID exposure at White House

Gov Kim Reynolds’ daily press briefing had a sparser look Monday, as it was held with no members of the press actually present. Reynolds is following stricter social distancing guidelines due to her exposure to COVID-19 last week. The press asked questions by phone.

Reynolds reported she was notified during the weekend that Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary Katie Miller, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, was present when Reynolds was at the White House last Wednesday. Reynolds said she had no contact with Miller, but she’ll follow a modified quarantine plan. Continue reading Reynolds has no in-person press attendance at press briefing →

The number of Iowas who have tested positive be for the novel coronavirus is at 11,457 as of May 7 at 11:59 pm, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. That’s 397 more than the previous day.

Twelve Iowans died, bringing the total of Iowans who had died of COVID-19 to 243. Continue reading COVID numbers updated, no press briefing →

Gov Kim Reynolds opened her daily COVID-19 press briefing Thursday, May 7, with an enthusiastic report of her trip to Washington, DC, Wednesday to talk with President Trump and others.

When asked, she said she isn’t quarantining because she traveled by private jet, was administered a Abbott rapid test when she arrived at the White House, had her temperature checked multiple times there, and returned immediately to Iowa after her White House meeting. Continue reading Reynolds tells of discussion with Trump, rolls out updates to IDPH COVID website →

Gov Kim Reynolds on Wednesday issued a new proclamation opening campgrounds in the state of Iowa, effective Friday, May 8, 2020.

The Iowa DNR will open state campgrounds Friday, May 8, at 8 am to campers with self-contained restrooms only. Self-contained is defined as a tent or pop-up camper with a portable toilet or an RV with a functioning, self-contained bathroom. Walk-in campers may begin registering at 8 am. Continue reading DNR tells guidelines for campground use →

Gov Kim Reynolds did not hold a COVID-19 press briefing Wednesday as she’s traveling to Washington, D.C., to meet with President Trump. She said Tuesday she would fly by private jet with the cost coming from her campaign fund.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) was notified of 293 additional positive cases of COVID-19 during the 24 hours preceding Tuesday at 10 am. That brings the total number of positive cases in Iowa to 10,404 (0.003 percent of the total population). Continue reading No COVID press briefing, but numbers roll in →

The Iowa Department of Public Health on Tuesday released the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in manufacturing facilities, after stalling on a request for that information Monday. According to IDPH deputy director Sarah Riesetter, epidemiologist Dr Caitlyn Pedati has determined that releasing the name of an employer is “necessary to protect the public health” when there’s been an outbreak at the business.

The announcement came during Gov Kim Reynolds daily COVID-19 press briefing Tuesday. Continue reading COVID cases top 10K in Iowa, 700+ cases at Tyson in Perry →

Today, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been notified of 534 additional positive cases for a total of 9,703 positive cases. There have been an additional 3,441 negative tests for a total of 47,458 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs. Eighty-five percent of new positive cases are in the 22 counties where restrictions remain in place.

No new cases were reported in Greene County; the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the county remains at 11. Continue reading Decisions about COVID-19 aren’t political, Reynolds says →

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) on Sunday reported being notified of 528 additional positive cases of COVID-19 during the 24 hours ending May 2 at 10 am, for a total of 9,169 positive cases. There have been an additional 2,932 negative tests for a total of 44,017 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs. Seventy-seven percent of new positive cases  are in the 22 counties where restrictions remain in place. Continue reading COVID cases top 9K in Iowa →

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported Saturday learning of 757 additional positive cases of COVID-19 across the state for a total of 8,641 positive cases.

There have been an additional 3,377 negative tests for a total of 41,085 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs. Eighty-seven percent of new positive cases today are in the 22 counties where restrictions remain in place; 493 of the  757 new positive cases are from Black Hawk, Dallas, Polk and Woodbury counties. Continue reading Greene County hits double digits in COVID cases →