Gov Kim Reynolds’ rhetoric about the COVID-19 pandemic has changed in the two weeks since she declared a public health disaster in Iowa. At her daily press conference Monday she characterized the pandemic as “a marathon, not a sprint” in answering a question about how many peaks we can expect.
“Today starts the fourth week since coronavirus was first confirmed (in Iowa), and the reality is the end is not yet in sight,” Reynolds said.
She said President Trump’s extension March 29 of social distancing guidelines through April 30 to slow the spread of the virus. “The significant mitigation steps we have taken in Iowa are aimed at that same goal, and we continue to assess our actions on a daily basis. For now, we must adjust to a new normal, one that’s uncomfortable. It’s inconvenient, and it’s uncertain. This is not an easy time
”But if we know something about Iowans, it’s that we are at our best when times are tough… Now even as our resolve is being tested in ways like never before, Iowans are more determined than ever to step up and care for their own,” Reynolds said.
She said she’s waiting for written guidance from the White House and will make recommendations to extend mitigation measures at the end of this week, if necessary.
A shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare providers has been a concern. On Monday, Reynolds enumerated the total pending orders for PPE across the state: 2 million surgical and procedure masks; 500,000 N95 masks; 500,000 face shields; and 250,000 procedure gowns. She did not say how much is in current inventory.
She said that with people across the state asking about sewing face masks for health care providers, directions for plans are now posted to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) website. The fabric masks can be worn under a surgical mask to extend the number of hours the surgical mask is viable. Reynolds encouraged home sewers to call their intended recipient healthcare facility before taking masks.
Health officials have said previously the number of COVID-19 cases will peak in the next two weeks, but a warning that there will be several peaks is now included. Reynolds didn’t say how many peaks there may be, but said state epidemiologist Dr Caitlin Pedati is working on new models to predict future peaks.
COVID-19 has been confirmed in 56 counties; testing has been done in all 99 counties. IDPH deputy director Sarah Riesetter repeated what she said yesterday. “It’s just a matter of time…. Just because a county doesn’t currently have a positive case, it doesn’t mean the county won’t have a positive case tomorrow.”
The IDPH reported Monday that it has been notified of 88 additional positive cases of Iowans with COVID-19, for a total of 424 positive cases. There have been a total of 6,162 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs.
According to IDPH, two Iowans with COVID-19 passed away Sunday night, one elderly adult (81+) of Linn County, one elderly adult (81+) of Washington County. That brings the total to six Iowans who have died of COVID-19.
According to IDPH, the locations and age ranges of the 88 individuals include:
• Audubon County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Benton County, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Cedar County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Cerro Gordo County, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years)
• Clinton County, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years)
• Crawford County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Dallas County, 3 adults (18-40 years), 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years)
• Dubuque County, 3 middle-aged adults (41-60 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years),
• Guthrie County, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years)
• Iowa County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Jackson County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
• Jasper County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Johnson County, 2 middle-aged adults (41-60 years), 3 older adults (61-80 years)
• Jones County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
• Linn County, 9 adults (18-40 years), 8 middle-aged adults (41-60 years), 6 older adults (61-80 years), 6 elderly adults (81+)
• Monona County, 1 child (0-17 years), 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Muscatine County, 1 middle-aged adult (41-60 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years)
• Polk County, 2 children (0-17 years), 2 adults (18-40 years), 6 middle-aged adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Scott County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 2 middle-aged adults (41-60 years), 3 older adults (61-80 years)
• Shelby County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Tama County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
• Van Buren County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Washington County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 3 middle-aged adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
