The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 253 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 during the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, increasing the total number of Iowans who have tested positive to 42,738. The newly confirmed cases were part of the 3,052 test results reported by IDPH between 10 a.m. on Monday and […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds
Stores resume can and bottle redemption
Stores throughout Iowa have started redeeming cans and bottles again, returning the nickel deposits to customers. The temporary suspension of the state’s “bottle bill” expired on Sunday. In her March 17 public health emergency proclamation, Gov. Kim Reynolds suspended the legal requirement that stores which sell beverages in cans and bottles accept the containers’ return, […]
‘Iowans deserve access to the truth’: Rep. Loebsack inquires why IDPH underreported a Tyson plant outbreak; 469 new COVID-19 cases confirmed
The Iowa Department of Public Health reported another 469 people were confirmed as having COVID-19 during the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. on Monday. The new cases increase the total number of Iowans who have tested positive to 42,485. The newly confirmed cases were part of the 4,403 test results reported by IDPH between […]
COVID-19: Another 667 cases in Iowa as public health experts call for statewide mask mandate
During the 24-hour period that ended at 10 a.m. on Saturday, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported another 667 confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing to the total number of Iowans who have tested positive for the virus to 41,627. The new cases were confirmed as IDPH reported the results of 6,005 tests, giving the […]
Johnson County Board of Supervisors approves face mask mandate
The Johnson County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution mandating the wearing face covering in public to limit the spread of COVID-19 during its meeting on Thursday morning. The resolution requires face masks or face shields to be worn in the same public locations and has the same limited exemptions as the face coverings […]
Iowa Department of Public Health understated extent of COVID-19 outbreak at Columbus Junction Tyson plant
On May 5, almost a month after an outbreak of COVID-19 forced the Tyson meat processing plant in Columbus Junction to temporarily close, the Iowa Department of Public Health finally announced how many workers at the plant had tested positive. But according to a new report from the Associated Press, the number IDPH Deputy Director […]
COVID-19: Iowa’s death toll passes 800; Rep. Finkenauer wants to know why testing has been cut in Dubuque
Iowa’s official COVID-19 death toll passed 800 on Wednesday, as the Iowa Department of Public Health reported another 10 people had died from the virus. The newly reported deaths bring the total number of Iowans killed by COVID-19 to 808. IDPH also reported another 374 Iowans tested positive for the virus during the 24-hour period […]
‘The time for action is now’: Mayor Bruce Teague issues order requiring face coverings in Iowa City
Effective immediately, almost everyone in Iowa City will be required to wear a face covering while in public, according to a proclamation issued on Tuesday by Mayor Bruce Teague. “With more than 30,000 college students set to return to Iowa City in August, the time for action is now,” Teague said in livestreamed address during […]
COVID-19: Another 512 Iowans test positive; the governor orders limits testing at Dubuque’s Test Iowa site
The Iowa Department of Public Health reported on Tuesday that another 512 Iowans had tested positive for COVID-19 during the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. The new cases bring the total number of people who have tested positive for the virus to 39,419. The department also reported another five deaths between 10 a.m. on […]
Mayor Bruce Teague will issue an order mandating face coverings in Iowa City
Mayor Bruce Teague said on Monday that he is preparing to issue an order requiring face coverings be worn in public in an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Iowa City. Teague announced his intention during Monday afternoon’s Joint Entities meeting, a Zoom meeting of representatives from most of the local governmental bodies […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds orders schools to prioritize in-person class, throwing a wrench in some districts’ plans
Gov. Kim Reynolds emphasized the importance of bringing kids back to school in the fall during her press conference Friday morning, shortly before she signed a new public health proclamation that says Iowa schools must prioritize in-person learning. The proclamation comes on the same day Iowa reported its highest single-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases. […]
COVID-19: Iowa has its highest one-day increase in cases since May, the surge in Johnson County continues
Iowa saw its second-highest daily increase in COVID-19 cases on Friday, as the Iowa Department of Public Health reported another 744 Iowans had tested positive for the virus during the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. Only the daily total on May 2 of 757 exceeded the number of new cases reported on Friday. Part […]

