A public hotline has been established for Iowans with questions about COVID-19. The line is available 24/7 by calling 2-1-1 or 1-800-244-7431.
More than 3,100 Iowans have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the latest numbers from the Iowa Department of Public Health.
With four additional deaths reported, Iowa's total is now 79. 257 more positive cases put the statewide total at 3,159.
1,013 additional negative tests have been reported, meaning 22,661 tests total have returned negative.
According to the IDPH, 261 of 389 confirmed cases (67%) from Sunday could be attributed to surveillance testing of meat processing facilities.
Over 500 employees at both Tyson Foods and National Beef were tested: 84 positive tests came from Tyson and 177 from National Beef.
Monday, April 20
515 Alive cancels 2020 festival
EDM and music festival 515 Alive will not take place this summer.
"Due to the risk and uncertainty we are facing, the 515 Alive team has decided to cancel our 2020 event and focus on coming back together in 2021," event organizers wrote on Facebook.
The festival had been scheduled for August 16 & 17 at Water Works Park in Des Moines.
On-duty Linn County deputy tests positive for COVID-19
An on-duty Linn County sheriff's deputy working at the Linn County Correctional Center has tested positive for the new coronavirus.
The sheriff's office said in a news release Monday that the deputy showed up for work at the center on Thursday evening symptom-free, but left work near the end of his shift when he began displaying symptoms, including a high fever, and was tested. He is to remain in self-isolation until he meets guidelines for returning to work. The sheriff's office says the deputy did not expose any inmates to the virus, but that 11 coworkers were exposed.
The sheriff's office says those coworkers will continue to report for duty as long as they remain asymptomatic.
Reporting by The Associated Press
Iowa meat plans will stay open despite risks, governor says
Gov. Kim Reynolds said Monday that Iowa’s meatpacking plants will stay open and continue to spread the coronavirus among workers, warning that shutting them down would be devastating for farmers and the food supply.
Reynolds acknowledged at a news conference that the virus spreads quickly and easily at the plants because so many workers are in close proximity. She said that “we will continue to see clusters of positive cases” in them.Reynolds said closing them wasn’t an option, calling the state’s most important objective “keeping that food supply chain moving.”
Otherwise, she warned that farmers would have to euthanize animals scheduled to be sold to plants and the price of food would skyrocket.
Reporting by The Associated Press
More than a dozen at northern Iowa packing plant test positive
16 employees at Prestage Foods of Iowa in Wright County have tested positive COVID-19 after showing no symptoms.
Last week, Prestage contacted local public health officials, communicating that they had 62 employees commuting from Black Hawk County to their facility in Wright County. Prestage and local officials agreed that a proactive measure should be taken immediately "due to the increased positives in the Black Hawk County region."
Gov. Reynolds holds Monday morning press conference
Iowa plant reopens after testing shows 177 workers infected
An Iowa beef processing plant that was idled after a coronavirus outbreak resumed production Monday, one day after the state said 177 workers there have tested positive.
The Iowa Premium plant in Tama, owned by National Beef, had suspended production for most of the month after the company confirmed that multiple workers had the virus.On Sunday, the office of Gov. Kim Reynolds said that 177 out of more than 500 National Beef workers have tested positive for coronavirus.A woman who answered the phone at the plant confirmed that production resumed Monday. A National Beef spokesman said last week that its plan to resume production April 20 hadn’t changed.
The company hasn’t responded to inquiries since then.
Reporting by The Associated Press
RAGBRAI 2020 postponed
An Iowa biking tradition will not take place this summer due to COVID-19.
RAGBRAI organizers announced Monday that after talking with the overnight towns, the ride has been pushed back to July 25-31, 2021.
"The safety of our riders has always been the most important focus for our RAGBRAI team and we feel the decision to postpone to 2021 is the right one," RAGBRAI wrote. "We strongly feel that this is in everyone’s best interest."
RAGBRAI 2020 was set to go through Le Mars, Storm Lake, Fort Dodge, Iowa Falls, Waterloo, Anamosa, Maquoketa and Clinton.
Tyson plant shuts down Monday for deep cleaning, sanitation
The Tyson Fresh Meats plant in Perry will shut down Monday to clean the facility as an "added precaution" to ensure workers are safe.
The measures include:
- Checking workers' temperature upon arrival
- Mandating and providing face masks
- Initiating additional cleaning
"Our workforce safety efforts are significant and strictly enforced," a Tyson spokesperson said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends frequent hand washing, avoiding close contact and staying home if you are sick as main areas of focus for prevention and containment of COVID-19.
Des Moines Public Schools expands free meal program
Iowa's largest school district will increase its site for meals from 22 to 50 beginning Monday.
“Our staff have been working 12+ hour shifts to assemble thousands of meals each day,” Food and Nutrition director Amanda Miller said. "And our staff and volunteers at the distribution sites have been essential to creating a drive-thru meal distribution that is benefiting thousands of children.”
Full list of meal sites
Access to DART Central Station restricted
The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority hub located in downtown Des Moines will limit access due to COVID-19.
"Riders will now only be allowed into DART Central Station to either use the restroom or speak to a representative at the Customer Service window," DART said in a release. "DART Security will allow one rider at a time into the lobby through the southwest door that faces the bus platforms."
DART is also strongly encouraging riders to wear a mask or some other face covering.
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