On Saturday, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported another 344 Iowans had tested positive for COVID-19, including four residents of Johnson County and four residents of Linn County. The new cases bring the total number of Iowans who have tested positive for the virus to 19,135 as of 10 a.m. on Saturday. IDPH also […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds
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Iowa’s new eviction and foreclosure aid program excludes many potential applicants
On Friday, Iowa launched a program to help people facing eviction or foreclosure due to hardship caused by COVID-19, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced at her daily press conference. But very few currently receiving unemployment benefits will likely qualify for help from the Iowa Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Program. The program is being administered by the […]
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Iowa marks 500 COVID-19 deaths as virus reaches all 99 counties, Reynolds acknowledges ‘substantial spread’
In an unusual move, Gov. Kim Reynolds began her press conference on Thursday by turning the podium over to Iowa Department of Public Health Deputy Director Sarah Reisetter. At Wednesday’s press conference, Reisetter had revealed it is department policy not to confirm the existence of a COVID-19 outbreak at a business, unless directly asked about […]
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Some counties see sharp rise in COVID-19 cases, but Iowa’s top health official ‘continues to be fine with what we’re seeing,’ Gov. Reynolds says
Despite sharp increases in COVID-19 case numbers in some parts of central and western Iowa — Wright County went from 25 cases last week to 124 by Wednesday morning, and the Iowa Department of Public Health has reported more than 400 new cases in Buena Vista County since Tuesday — IDPH Medical Director Dr. Caitlin […]
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Reynolds allows almost all businesses and outdoor venues to reopen, eliminates 10-person cap on gatherings
Gov. Kim Reynolds said the state won’t “prioritize” the lives of Iowans over their “livelihoods,” just before announcing her latest relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions. According to the governor, “Iowa is on the road to recovery.” “For our state, recovery means striking a balance between getting life and business back to normal, while continuing to manage […]
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Iowa Games cancels most 2020 summer events
Most of the events scheduled for the 2020 Summer Iowa Games have been canceled due to COVID-19, Iowa Games organizers announced on Tuesday. “Due to the group gathering nature of this large-scale sports festival and social-distancing guidelines currently in place, the majority of the Summer Iowa Games have been cancelled for 2020,” Iowa Games said […]
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Another 344 Iowans test positive for COVID-19, as the state prepares to reopen bars
The Iowa Department of Public Health reported at 10 a.m. on Monday that another 344 Iowans have tested positive for COVID-19, including five residents of Johnson County and eight residents of Linn County. The total number of confirmed cases in the state as of 10 a.m. was 17,557. IDPH also reported another seven deaths from […]
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Governor’s office omits more than 180 newly reported cases in its Sunday press release on COVID-19
Because the Iowa Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 information site was undergoing scheduled maintenance this weekend, the governor’s office released press releases on Saturday and Sunday with updates on the number of newly confirmed cases of the virus and COVID-19 deaths. The press release sent after 11:30 a.m. on Sunday stated, “Today, the state of […]
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Iowa reports 419 new COVID-19 cases and 26 more deaths the day after more restrictions are lifted
One day after Gov. Reynolds further relaxed Iowa’s remaining COVID-19 restrictions, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported another 419 Iowans have tested positive for the virus. The department also reported another 26 deaths due to the virus. That is the highest number of deaths reported on a single day so far. IDPH’s COVID-19 information […]
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As problems pile up, Gov. Reynolds brushes off questions about Test Iowa: ‘This is one tool in the toolbox’
For the second day in a row, Gov. Kim Reynolds assured Iowans that Test Iowa will now schedule a COVID-19 test for anyone who wants one. But as reporters explained to the governor at her press conference on Friday, that is not the case. Monica Madden of WHO-TV told Reynolds she had filled out a […]
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Gov. Reynolds opens up Test Iowa testing to all, criticizes reporters for focusing too much on testing
Gov. Kim Reynolds started her press conference on Thursday by boasting about the amount of COVID-19 testing being done in Iowa, and announcing the Test Iowa program will soon begin testing anyone who wants a test. Before the press conference was over, she was complaining that reporters are too “hung up on testing.” Reynolds also […]
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Iowa Utilities Board ends prohibition on disconnections
Some utility companies will be able to start disconnecting customers with unpaid bills next week, the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) decided on Wednesday. On March 27, IUB issued an order suspending all utility disconnections for the duration of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proclamation of a public health emergency. The governor’s proclamation expires on Wednesday, May 27, […]
