More Businesses Ordered To Close; COVID-19 Cases Continue To Rise
With the number of coronavirus cases and deaths continuing to rise in Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued a new proclamation ordering more businesses to close.
In an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, Reynolds announced Monday the following businesses and public buildings will be closed through April 30:
- Malls
- Social and fraternal clubs
- Bingo halls
- Bowling alleys
- Pool halls
- Arcades
- Amusement Parks
- Libraries
- Museums
- Zoos
- Skating rinks and parks
- Outdoor/Indoor Children’s Play Centers
- Tobacco and Vaping Stores
- Race Tracks
- Toy, Gaming, Instrument, Music and Movie Stores
- Campgrounds
In her daily her daily press briefing, which have been moved from 2:30 PM to 11 AM starting this week, the Governor said her order to close additional businesses and public buildings is based on data and metrics that she and other state officials regularly review. Reynolds said the data currently doesn’t justify the need for a ‘shelter in place’ order.
In conjunction with Reynolds' news conference, public health officials released the latest figures on COVID-19 cases in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 78 new cases in Iowa, and three additional deaths.
State officials said two of the recent deaths were in Tama County, both adults over the age of 81. The third death was in Linn County, an adult between the ages of 61 and 80. So far, 25 people have died from symptoms related to the virus in Iowa.
The latest figures from the Iowa Health Department show 946 people have tested positive for the coronavirus. Of the new confirmed cases, 12 were from area counties.
Six of the cases are from Tama County. They involved three adults over the age of 81, one adult between the ages of 18 and 40, one adult between the ages of 41 and 60, and one adult between the ages of 61 and 80.
Allamakee, Chickasaw, and Marshall county each reported one case, all adults between the ages of 18 and 40. Benton, Dubuque and Franklin counties each reported one case involving adults between the ages of 41 and 60. The positive cases in Chickasaw and Franklin were the first for each county.
Here's information on the state's 78 additional cases:
- Allamakee County: 1 adult (18-40 years)
- Benton County: 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
- Cedar County: 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
- Cerro Gordo County: 2 older adults (61-80 years)
- Chickasaw County: 1 adult (18-40 years)
- Clinton County: 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Crawford County: 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
- Dubuque County: 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
- Franklin County: 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
- Henry County: 1 adult (18-40 years)
- Jackson County: 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
- Johnson County: 5 adults (18-40 years), 6 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Linn County: 5 adults (18-40 years), 6 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
- Louisa County: 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
- Marion County: 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Marshall County: 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Muscatine County: 5 adults (18-40 years), 2 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Page County: 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
- Polk County: 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years)
- Pottawattamie County: 1 adult (18-40 years)
- Scott County: 2 adults (18-40 years), 7 middle age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80), 1 elderly adult (81+)
- Tama County: 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 middle age adult (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80), 3 elderly adults (81+)
- Wapello County: 1 adult (18-40 years)
- Warren County: 1 adult (18-40 years)
- Washington County: 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 middle age adult (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80)
- Winnebago County: 1 middle age adult (41-60 years)
The virus is now present in 75 of Iowa's 99 counties. However, 10,653 people have tested negative for the virus in the state.