IOWA, USA — As business statewide prepare to reopen Friday following Gov. Kim Reynolds' order lifting certain restrictions, Local 5 is compiling what you need to know about COVID-19 in Iowa.
The following businesses across Iowa can reopen their doors this Friday:
- Restaurants
- Fitness centers
- Malls
- Other retail establishments
- Salons
- Barbershops
- Medical spas
- Tanning facilities
- Massage therapy establishments
- Tattoo parlors
- Campgrounds
- Race tracks
- Libraries
- Drive-in theaters
- Social and fraternal clubs
"Our decisions have been based on Iowa data, the expertise of our department of public health and our epidemiologist team, the CDC, national experts, and governors sharing their expertise and best practices," Reynolds said Wednesday.
Businesses that reopen must follow Iowa Department of Public Health guidance such as capacity restrictions, social distancing and sanitation.
Bars and casinos are not included in the proclamation.
As of Thursday, 318 Iowans have died and 13,675 have tested positive.
1-in-35 Iowans have been tested, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health, and 6,231 have recovered.
Want to see what's open or submit business opening details? Click here.
May 14, 2020
WATCH: Gov. Kim Reynolds' full press conference for May 14, 2020
6 staffers, 47 inmates test positive for COVID-19 at Polk County Jail
The Polk County Sheriff's Office has reported 47 inmates and six staff members who have tested positive at the Polk County Jail as of Thursday.
"The Polk County Sheriff’s Office continues to work closely with the Polk County Health Department and Iowa Department of Public Health in regards to testing of inmates and staff," the sheriff's office said in a release. "Additionally, we are working on a “tracker” notification system that we are putting up on the Polk County Sheriff’s website and will hopefully have that up very soon.
The tracker is expected to be updated Monday through Friday.
Only 4,000 have received results under Iowa testing program
Gov. Kim Reynolds says only 4,000 people have gotten results under Iowa’s $26 million coronavirus testing contract but that will increase now that the equipment has been validated.
Reynolds said the the State Hygienic Lab has determined that the machines purchased for the TestIowa program are 95% accurate in detecting the virus in samples and 99.7% accurate in determining its absence. She says the validation will allow TestIowa to soon process 3,000 tests per day as originally envisioned.
She said it would also allow the tests to be processed faster and the state to broaden the criteria of who can qualify for a test.
Reporting by The Associated Press/Ryan J. Foley
Deaths in Iowa appear to be on track with previous three years
According to data from the Iowa Department of Public Health, monthly deaths in the state are on track with the previous three years.
The below chart and corresponding graph contains totals from January 2017 through May 2020.
State leaders request Revenue Estimating Conference
Iowa's top legislators have asked for a Revenue esetimating Conference to convene in order to estimate figures for an FY 2021 budget.
“Iowa’s fiscal health is strong and we are prepared for this time of uncertainty,” Gov. Reynolds in a statement. “But as Iowa continues to recover and grow from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s critical that we have as much information available to us to make informed decisions. The Revenue Estimating Conference can provide guidance as we assess COVID-19’s impact on the state’s finances.”
Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Ankeny, added that the state is currently in "a fiscal situation without any precedent."
The legislative session is set to resume on June 3.
TestIowa process validated, according to Gov. Reynolds
During her Thursday press conference, Gov. Reynolds stated that the TestIowa process has completed its validation with 95% accuracy for determining positives and 99.7% accuracy for determining negatives.
She also stated that availability for testing is still expanding.
12 additional deaths reported, 386 more Iowans test positive
The latest numbers from the Iowa Department of Public Health:
- 13,675 positive tests (+386)
- 318 deaths (+12)
- 89,294 tested (+3,575)
- 75,619 negative tests (+3,279)
- 6,231 recovered (+277)
- 405 hospitalized (+17)
- 35 long-term care facility outbreaks (+2)
Nearly 17,000 Iowans file initial unemployment claims
16,735 Iowans filed initial unemployment claims last week, a decrease of 6,506 from the previous week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
15,411 initial claims were by those who work and live in Iowa, with another 1,324 by individuals who work in Iowa and live in another state, Iowa Workforce Development says.
The state paid out $52,903,527.20 in unemployment insurance benefits last week and saw 191,257 continuing claims.
Iowa Workforce Development says the following industries saw the most claims:
- Manufacturing (4,065)
- Industry Not Available - Self-employed, Independent Contractors, etc. (2,103)
- Health Care & Social Assistance (1,865)
- Accommodation & Food Services (1,269)
- Retail Trade (1,133)
Other figures released by IWD:
- $108,219,000 paid out in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) last week — Since April 4, 2020, a total of $547,345,200 in benefits has been paid
- $7,010,336.34 was paid to 13,075 Iowans receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits in the week ending May 2, 2020.
Nearly 3 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits nationwide.
Tyson cuts some beef prices as coronavirus spikes grocery store costs
Tyson Foods is lowering some prices on certain products this week after coronavirus closures at meatpacking plants led to a surge in meat costs, the company confirmed to multiple media outlets.
CNN and the Wall Street Journal said the company plans to lower prices for ground beef, roasts and other beef products by as much as 20 to 30 percent for sales to grocery stores, restaurants and other customers. The drop in prices is expected to last through Saturday.
Gary Mickelson, the company's senior director of public relations, told CNN the reason behind the price drop is to "help keep beef on family tables across our nation, especially as our beef plants return from reduced levels of production."
Noel White, Tyson’s chief executive told the Wall Street Journal that discounting the price of beef products will help preserve consumer demand and keep beef affordable.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has said that bare store shelves in grocery stores are a "demand issue, not a supply issue."
The statement added: "Our food supply chain needs time to adjust to these changes that have happened in a very short period of time."
Reporting by TEGNA/The Associated Press
RELATED: How to stay safe as Iowa reopens
________________________________________________________________
WATCH: Complete coronavirus coverage from Local 5 on YouTube