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 […]
COVID-19
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.
Posted inCommunity/News
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 […]
Posted inCommunity/News
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 […]
Posted inCommunity/News
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 […]
Posted inCommunity/News
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, […]
Posted inCOVID-19, Uncategorized
Grinnell College to close campus and shift to online learning amidst COVID-19 pandemic
Grinnell College was the first Iowa college to close due to growing concerns of the international outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by novel coronavirus. Students are expected to leave campus by March 23, and make the shift to online learning to complete their courses in an effort to keep the Grinnell community safe. The […]
Posted inCommunity/News
As they mark their first anniversary, Iowa City Student Climate Strikers turn down award, join ‘digital strike’
Every week since they began demonstrating outside of the Iowa City Community School District offices on March 15, 2019, the Iowa City Student Climate Strike has reiterated their message of climate action through social media, letters to the editor and, of course, in-person protests. Massimo Biggers, Alex Howe, Ian Martinez, Maddie Peterson and the other […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Mission Creek Festival 2020 is canceled, may reschedule
The 15th annual Mission Creek Festival is the latest event to fall to the coronavirus pandemic. Festival organizers sent an email just before 6 p.m. Thursday announcing the cancellation of the festival “in its current form” due to the public health risk. Originally scheduled to take place at various downtown Iowa City venues April 1-4, […]
Posted inCommunity/News
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 […]
Posted inCommunity/News
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.
Posted inCommunity/News
‘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 […]
