One day after Iowa surpassed 2,000 COVID-19 deaths, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported its highest one-day number of new deaths from the virus. IDPH reported another 40 deaths from the virus fatalities during the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. Those deaths brought the total number of COVID-19 fatalities IDPH has reported since […]
COVID-19
Posted inCommunity/News
Linn County Supervisors approve mask mandate, close most county buildings
On Wednesday, the Linn County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted in favor of requiring individuals in the county to wear a face covering when out in public. The regulation, which was approved by the Board of Health earlier this week, takes effect on Thursday. It requires residents and individuals visiting Linn County to wear face […]
Posted inLetters
Letter from an Iowa City nurse: The situation is worse than you think. Stay home.
Editor’s note: The author of this letter has been verified as a nurse at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, but has chosen to remain anonymous to protect their job. After months of quietly feeling the realities of the pandemic both in my home and work life, this morning I came across a Facebook post […]
Posted inCommunity/News
CR Schools Superintendent discusses remote learning and COVID-19 in district schools
Cedar Rapids families should know by next Tuesday if the Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) will apply for another virtual instruction waiver or if students can expect to return to in-person classes after Thanksgiving. Superintendent Noreen Bush said the district will be closely following three main metrics — staff absences, impact on the healthcare […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Chuck Grassley tests positive for COVID-19, misses a Senate vote for the first time in 27 years
Late on Tuesday afternoon, Sen. Chuck Grassley announced on Twitter he had tested positive for COVID-19. The 87-year-old, who is the longest serving Republican in the U.S. Senate, said he is “feeling good + will keep up on my work for the ppl of Iowa from home” as he self-quarantines. I’ve tested positive for coronavirus. […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Gov. Reynolds sends mixed messages on face masks as Iowa surpasses 2,000 COVID deaths
Gov. Kim Reynolds began her news conference on Tuesday by repeating much of what she said during her televised speech on Monday night, when she introduced some new, limited COVID-19 restrictions. “Over the last two weeks, the number of hospitalizations have climbed daily,” Reynolds said. “And at times the increases have been significant.” There were […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Linn County Board of Health approves regulation requiring face coverings in public
The Linn County Board of Health unanimously approved a regulation on Monday that requires individuals in the county to wear a face covering when out in public. The Board of Health’s approval came just hours before Gov. Kim Reynolds announced a new emergency public health proclamation that included a limited statewide mask mandate. Various jurisdictions […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Gov. Reynolds says ‘the pandemic in Iowa is worse than it has ever been,’ as she imposes new restrictions
After refusing since March to mandate face masks to limit the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Kim Reynolds reversed her stance on Monday evening and issued a new emergency public health proclamation requiring face masks in public. It is, however, a much more limited mandate than public health experts in Iowa and the White House Coronavirus […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Gov. Reynolds to give a primetime speech on COVID-19 Monday, as virus hospitalizations continue to surge
Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office announced on Monday morning the governor “will give a live address to Iowans on COVID19” at 6:05 p.m. Reynolds speech will be live-streamed on Facebook and carried on PBS. “Iowa governors deliver an inaugural address and, every January, Iowa governors give a formal speech to legislators, but this is the first […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Experts fear Iowa healthcare system’s ‘collapse’ as one-day cases surpass 5,000 for the first time
Iowa had its worst day for new COVID-19 cases on Friday, with the Iowa Department of Public Health reporting 5,065 more confirmed cases of the virus during the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. The new cases included 141 residents of Johnson County and 356 residents of Linn County. The previous one-day record for new […]
Posted inCommunity/News
‘It’s a means to an end’: CR City Councilmember Ashley Vanorny shares experience in Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine trial
Cedar Rapids City Councilmember Ashley Vanorny said her decision to participate in Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine trial was “a very calculated risk but one that was good and necessary to take.” Vanorny is one of 270 volunteers enrolled at the University of Iowa’s study site. Overall, there are more than 40,000 people participating in the international […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa City Transit suspending Eastside Loop service while schools go all online
Iowa City transit will temporarily suspend the AM and PM Eastside Loop bus service starting on Monday, Nov. 16. “The service suspension is being done due to the Iowa City Community School District decision to resume off-site learning,” Iowa City Transit said in a statement. “Service for these two routes will not return until on-site […]
