During a late Monday afternoon press conference on COVID-19, Gov. Kim Reynolds said it was too soon for the state to impose restrictions on large public gatherings or on public spaces such as bars or restaurants, even though she acknowledged “substantial community spread [of COVID-19 in Iowa] was confirmed.” The governor said she would prefer […]
Paul Brennan
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa City and Cedar Rapids schools are closing in response to COVID-19
The Iowa City Community School District announced on Monday morning it will be closing its schools until April 13, in order to help limit the spread of coronavius. In an email to parents and district staff, Director of Community Relations Kristin Pedersen said the district made its decisions following the advice Gov. Kim Reynolds offered on Sunday night.
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National Security Council warns about text messages with COVID-19 disinformation
Shortly before midnight on Sunday night, the National Security Council tweeted a warning about disinformation being circulated by text messages that falsely claims a national quarantine is being imposed because of COVID-19. Text message rumors of a national #quarantine are FAKE. There is no national lockdown. @CDCgov has and will continue to post the latest […]
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Community spread of COVID-19 detected in Johnson County, Gov. Reynolds recommends closing schools in the state
Update: Following Gov. Reynolds’ announcement, the Cedar Rapids Community School District announced it would follow the governor’s recommendation that schools “close for 4 weeks in response to community spread of COVID-19.” According to CRCSD Superintendent Noreen Bush, following the governor’s Monday press conference, “we will communicate with families again… with details regarding how we will […]
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Gov. Reynolds says ‘we now have community spread’ of COVID-19 in Iowa, but still thinks it’s too soon to take major actions
On Saturday night, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced COVID-19 has entered the “community spread” phase in Iowa. “This afternoon, the Department of Public Health was informed of one additional positive case of an Iowa with COVID-19,” the governor told reporters at a hastily-called press conference. “The individual is an older adult, age 61 to 80, and […]
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Gov. Reynolds encourages social distancing, is cautious about ‘disruptive’ closings in COVID-19 update
The first number Gov. Kim Reynolds mentioned at her Friday afternoon press conference on the state’s response to COVID-19 may have been more surprising than any of the other figures cited during the half-hour event: It’s only been five days since the first person in Iowa was diagnosed with the disease. In that five days, […]
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Sen. Joni Ernst’s approval and favorability ratings have dropped since 2019, according to Iowa Poll
Sen. Joni Ernst’s approval rating among Iowans has dropped 10 percentage points over the last year, according to a new Iowa Poll. In the poll published by the Des Moines Register on March 7, only 47 percent of respondents said they approved of the job Ernst is doing as senator. The February 2019 Iowa Poll […]
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From classes to concerts, Iowans are hunkering down in the face of COVID-19, as the president shares misinformation (Updated)
Update: On Thursday evening, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported that two more Iowans have tested positive for COVID-19. Both newly diagnosed patients are between 61-80 years old. One lives in Johnson County, the other in Carroll County. Both are being treated at their homes. The two new cases bring the total of diagnosed […]
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Hy-Vee is replacing its Market Grilles with Wahlburgers
Hy-Vee will be closing all its Market Grille restaurants and turning over those locations to Wahlburgers, the Boston-based burger chain started by Paul Wahlberg and his brothers, actor Mark (Boogie Nights, The Happening) and singer Donnie (New Kids on the Block). “Our customers are wanting more fresh and convenient meal options,” Hy-Vee said in a […]
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COVID-19, now officially a pandemic, shuts down CR Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, puts UI on alert (updated)
The Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Society of Cedar Rapids — better known as SaPaDaPaSo — prides itself on never calling off its annual March 17 parade on account of bad weather. But this year, the organization has run into a problem bigger than cold or rain. SaPaDaPaSo announced on Wednesday morning it is canceling its 2020 parade out of coronavirus concerns.
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‘The reality of COVID-19 is now here,’ says Gov. Reynolds, offering few details on Johnson County cases
The number of diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in Johnson County jumped from three to seven yesterday, as four more people who had been on cruise in Egypt tested positive for the coronavirus. An additional case was diagnosed in Pottawatomie County. That person had no connection to the Johnson County cases, or Egypt. A total of […]
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Four cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Iowa, including three in Johnson County (Updated)
Four Iowans, including three residents of Johnson County, have now tested positive for COVID-19.. The most recent case was reported by the Pottawattamie County Health Department late Monday afternoon, but details regarding that case have not yet been released. The three Johnson County cases, however, were the subject of a press conference by Gov. Kim Reynolds on Sunday evening.
