As cases of COVID-19 increase in Iowa (particularly in Linn County, which, as of Monday morning, has the highest number of confirmed cases in the state at 71), hospitals are turning to telemedicine as a way to screen patients and care for more individuals while conserving personal protective equipment. Telemedicine has been an “invaluable tool […]
COVID-19
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa City Community School District announces changes to its grab-and-go meal program
As the Iowa City Community School District begins its second week of distributing grab-and-go meals during the school shutdown, there’s been a major change to the program. The program distributes prepacked lunches and breakfast for the following day to anyone 18 or younger — they do not have to be enrolled in one of the district’s schools to receive the meals. When it was launched last week, U.S. Department of Agriculture rules required the child to be present to receive a meal. But in an email sent to parents on Sunday night, the district said that has changed.
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Iowa’s COVID-19 ‘peak’ expected soon
“We’re thinking that we might see a peak [in the number of COVID-19 cases in Iowa] — a first peak — in the next two to three weeks,” Iowa Department of Public Health Deputy Director Sarah Reisetter said on Sunday. “That’s the best information that we have right now.” Reisetter stressed that that projection is […]
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COVID-19 cases in Linn County jump to 36, as the total number of cases in Iowa rises to 298
On Saturday, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported 64 more Iowans have tested positive for COVID-19, including three in Johnson County and 14 in Linn County. • Benton County, 1 adult (18-40 years) • Boone County, 1 adult (18-40 years) • Buchanan County, 1 older adult (61-80 years) • Cedar County, 1 middle-age […]
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Rep. Abby Finkenaur, Johnson County supervisors call for statewide shelter-in-place
At her press conference on Friday, Gov. Reynolds noted how quickly the COVID-19 emergency has evolved in Iowa. “It was 10 days ago that the first public health emergency declarations I signed went into effect,” she said. “We continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of the actions we’ve taken, as well as additional steps […]
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Gov. Reynolds is attempting to ban surgical abortions as ‘nonessential’ medical procedures during COVID-19 crisis
On Thursday, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an emergency proclamation that, among other things, banned all “nonessential or elective surgeries and procedures that utilize personal protective equipment” for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency in the state. On Friday, the governor’s spokesperson told Barbara Rodriguez of the Des Moines Register that ban includes surgical abortions. In […]
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‘We have to do better’: Health officials warn Linn County hospitals could become overwhelmed if cases continue to increase rapidly
During a press conference on Thursday afternoon, health experts warned Linn County residents that if cases of COVID-19 continue to increase as rapidly as they have been, hospitals will become overwhelmed in the next two to three weeks. Linn County saw its first confirmed cases of the new coronavirus on Saturday, March 21. In less […]
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Watch: Johnson County Public Health disease control specialists explain how they investigate COVID-19 cases
Johnson County Public Health posted a video on its Facebook page on Friday morning, featuring two of its disease control specialists providing “a general overview” of how they “conduct disease investigation on COVID-19, as well as how and why our processes changed over the past few weeks.” The presence of COVID-19 in Iowa was first […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Art in the time of COVID-19: Brook Hoover
This series, Art in the time of COVID-19, highlights musicians and artists in eastern Iowa whose life and work have been upended by the spread of the novel coronavirus in the state. If you would like to recommend someone to be featured in this space, please reach out to Little Village. Brook Hoover, Guitarist Over […]
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Gov. Reynolds orders retail businesses closed, changes position on whether counties can order shelter-in-place
Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered the closure of more businesses on Thursday, as well as the cancellation of non-essential medical and dental procedures in Iowa. At her Thursday afternoon press conference on the state’s response to COVID-19, Reynolds also said she was pushing back by a week the date businesses closed by executive order can reopen. […]
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Iowa City Animal Center encourages donations to their pet food pantry
As the community copes with unemployment, social distancing and mixed messages from federal, state and local leaders, even those less at risk of contracting COVID-19 are seeing their worlds shift — from kids to pets. While some pets may be relishing the extra couch time with their housebound humans, a stretched budget can affect all members of the family.
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Mayor Bruce Teague will host ‘Community Connection,’ an online show about COVID-19 and Iowa City
The City of Iowa City is launching an online show about the local response to COVID-19. Community Connection will feature Mayor Bruce Teague talking to area officials and community leaders about the impact of the disease, and what is being done stop its spread and help people. Iowa City Community School District Superintendent Stephen Murley […]
