On Thursday, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a new public health emergency proclamation that extended the business closures and regulatory waivers in her previous proclamations through April 30. It also extends through the end of April a ban on “nonessential and elective” medical and dental procedures that use personal protective equipment. Reynolds, however, did not mention […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds
Posted inCommunity/News
Gov. Reynolds dismisses estimate of 1,367 COVID-19 deaths in Iowa by August
The Iowa Department of Health reported on Wednesday that 52 more Iowans have tested positive for COVID-19, including three more in Johnson County and four more in Linn County. The new cases bring the state’s total of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 549. • Cerro Gordo County, 1 adult (18-40 years) • Clayton County, 1 elderly […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Planned Parenthood seeks injunction against Gov. Reynolds’ ban on surgical abortions (Updated)
Update: The Reynolds administration backed off its attempt ban all surgical abortions in Iowa under the governor’s emergency ordering prohibiting “nonessential or elective surgeries and procedures that utilize personal protective equipment,” before the starting of a Wednesday afternoon hearing on the Planned Parenthood of Heartland’s request for an emergency injunction. “Rita Bettis Austen, legal director […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Gov. Reynolds discloses number of ICU beds in Iowa as COVID-19 cases near 500
Another 19 Linn County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, the Iowa Department of Public Health announced on Tuesday. Linn now has 90 confirmed cases of the virus, the highest number for any county in Iowa. At her Tuesday afternoon press conference on the state’s response to COVID-19, Gov. Reynolds provided some information about Linn […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Rep. Cindy Axne calls for shelter-in-place order, as Iowa sees its biggest one-day increase in positive tests for COVID-19
“Today starts of the fourth week since Iowa’s first coronavirus cases were confirmed, and the reality is the end is not yet in sight,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said during her Monday afternoon press conference on the state’s response to COVID-19. Earlier in the day, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported 88 more Iowans had […]
Posted inCommunity/News
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 […]
Posted inCommunity/News
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 […]
Posted inCommunity/News
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 […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Shelter-in-place? Gov. Reynolds opposes mandatory restrictions, and Johnson County health leaders worry about ‘panic’
At her Wednesday afternoon press conference, Gov. Kim Reynolds reiterated her belief that voluntary efforts by Iowans are the key to combating the spread of COVID-19 in the state. “Now is the critical time, when each of us can make a difference on the impact that COVID-19 will have in Iowa,” Reynolds said. “We all […]
Posted inCommunity/News
The first Iowan dies from COVID-19; officials admit they don’t know how many ICU beds the state has
At the beginning of her Tuesday afternoon press conference on the state’s response to COVID-19, Gov. Kim Reynolds talked about what a good job her administration has done keeping her constituents up to date on the latest developments with the disease. “I made a commitment to do my part to keep Iowans informed,” she said […]
Posted inCommunity/News
‘This question is on everyone’s mind’: Linn County, Cedar Rapids officials weigh issuing a local shelter-in-place order
Gov. Kim Reynolds has repeatedly said the state is not ready to issue a shelter-in-place, even though the governors of neighboring states like Illinois and Wisconsin have issued such orders. “At this point we are not in a place where we would order a shelter-in-place or a stay-at-home,” Reynolds said during her Monday press conference […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Gov. Reynolds announces assistance for small businesses hurt by COVID-19, as Iowa reaches 105 confirmed cases
Gov. Kim Reynolds announced new assistance for the state’s small businesses during her Monday afternoon press conference on the state’s response to COVID-19. “All the necessary actions we’ve taken at the state level [to limit the spread of the disease] have come with consequences for Iowans, including our small businesses,” the governor said. Those actions […]
