91 of 99 counties in Iowa have a reported case of COVID-19 as of Tuesday morning, with 207 deaths statewide and 10,111 Iowans testing positive.
The following counties have no reported cases according to the latest numbers from the Iowa Department of Public Health: Adams, Decatur, Emmet, Fremont, Ida, Lucas, Palo Alto and Ringgold.
50,458 coronavirus tests have returned negative.
Gov. Kim Reynolds reiterated Monday that reopening portions of the state was based on the latest data and not pressure from other states or the federal government.
"This isn't political," Reynolds said. "That's one of the reasons I've been able to stand here every day and talk to Iowans about making decisions based on data and metrics."
May 5, 2020
WATCH: Gov. Kim Reynolds' full press conference for May 5
Tyson plant in Waterloo to resume operations
Production at the Tyson Foods plant in Waterloo will resume Thursday after suspending operations on April 22.
“Our top priority is the health and safety of our team members, their loved ones and our communities,” Tom Hart, plant manager of Tyson’s Waterloo facility, said in a statement. “We appreciate the collaboration and support of Black Hawk County health officials, Mayor Hart and Sheriff Thompson as we tested team members and took proactive steps to complement our existing prevention efforts, working with epidemiologists and other experts.”
Gov. Reynolds to visit with President Trump on Wednesday
According to a release from Reynolds' office, she will travel to Washington, D.C. Wednesday to meet with President Donald Trump and the White House coronavirus task force.
Maddie Poppe performing online concert to support local businesses
Iowa native and American Idol winner Maddie Poppe will perform a free, online concert Friday, according to the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier.
The concert will be hosted by Live the Valley and Cedar Valley Strong this Friday at 7:30 p.m. It'll be livestreamed on Live the Valley's Facebook page and YouTube channel as well as on the Cedar Valley Strong Facebook page.
City of Des Moines extending building closures and freeze on event permits
Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie announced that the City will extend both the closure of administration buildings and a freeze on permits for public events and activities until July 1.
This includes events that use City streets and rights-of-ways like the Downtown Farmers' Market and the Des Moines Arts Festival.
This comes after Polk County reported its highest outbreak of COVID-19 in the state with 1,778 total cases, more than double the 813 cases from a week ago.
Black and Blue Ball canceled
Iowa Concerns of Police Survivors (or COPS) announced Tuesday they will be canceling their annual Black and Blue Ball.
Iowa COPS says everything planned for this year's event will be rolled over to next year's ball, which is scheduled for March 27, 2021. Tickets that were returned for a refund will be resold on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Rescue employee in Stuart tests positive for COVID-19
The City of Stuart announced Tuesday that a part-time rescue worker in Stuart has tested positive for the coronavirus. The city says the part-time worker transported people via ambulance before they tested positive, and wasn't showing symptoms at the time.
The City of Stuart says their policy for Fire and Rescue workers since April has been to wear a mask, protective goggles and gloves with all patients. They say no patient contact has been made without that equipment being worn.
The worker is no longer working and will follow CDC's recovery guidelines before coming back to work, according to the City of Stuart.
Hy-Vee to limit meat purchases due to 'worker shortages at plants'
Shoppers at Hy-Vee will soon be limited to four packages of meat, the grocery store chain announced Tuesday.
Hy-Vee issued the following statement to Local 5:
We continue to work with industry leaders so we are prepared for any possible fluctuations in product and can best serve our customers. At Hy-Vee, we have product available at our stores but due to worker shortages at plants as well as an increase in meat sales, customers may not find the specific items they are looking for. Because of this, we are going to put a limit on customer purchases in the meat department. Effective Wednesday, May 6, each customer will be limited to four packages of a combination of fresh beef, ground beef, pork and chicken when they checkout at all Hy-Vee locations.
UnityPoint Health Hospitals resuming elective procedures with 'phased-in' approach
Three of UnityPoint Health's hospitals have plans in place to resume elective surgeries and procedures starting May 11.
A release from UnityPoint says Allen Hospital, Grundy County Memorial Hospital and Community Memorial Hospital will resume elective surgeries and procedures "gradually with sensitivity to how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve."
The plan includes adherence to requirements such as "sufficient supply of personal protective equipment, reserving adequate intensive care resources and testing patients for COVID-19 as indicated prior to procedures."
19 Iowans die, 408 more test positive for COVID-19
New numbers from the Iowa Dept. of Public Health show a dramatic increase in deaths since Monday. 19 more Iowans died, the statewide total is now 207.
Locations and age ranges of deaths are as follows:
- Allamakee County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Black Hawk County, 1 middle age adult (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years) 1 elderly adult (81+)
- Dallas County, 1 older adult (61-80 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
- Jasper County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
- Linn County, 1 middle age adult (41-60 years), 5 older adults (41-60)
- Polk County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
- Tama County, 3 elderly adults (81+)
- Woodbury County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
408 more Iowans tested positive for the virus. The total is now 10,111 in Iowa. Data from the IDPH shows that Polk County has the most cases with 1,778 people testing positive.
The second highest total of Iowans infected is 1,378 in Black Hawk County. The third highest is Woodbury County with 1,296.
50,458 tests have returned negative. 3,572 Iowans have recovered from the virus.
Another West Des Moines paramedic tests positive
A second paramedic with West Des Moines Emergency Medical Services (EMS) tested positive for COVID-19. West Des Moines EMS said they were notified on Monday.
The paramedic didn't have any symptoms when they were tested through a TestIowa site on April 29, according to the release from West Des Moines EMS.
Following CDC guidelines, the paramedic has been removed from duty and will remain off for the required 10 days if they remain asymptomatic.
City of West Des Moines responds to COVID-19
West Des Moines Mayor Steven Gaer joined "Good Morning Iowa" Tuesday to explain the community development block grant funds.
Nearly $500,000 has been allocated, with the main focus being homeless prevention such as mortgage, rent and utility payments, according to Gaer.
The city is also moving forward on several projects, including the MidAmerican Energy RecPlex, the Jamie Hurd Ampitheater and the boathouse at Raccoon River Park.
Coronavirus cuts 'deep scars' through meatpacking cities
The coronavirus is devastating the nation’s meatpacking communities — places like Waterloo and Sioux City in Iowa, Grand Island, Nebraska, and Worthington, Minnesota.
Within weeks, the outbreaks around slaughterhouses have turned into full-scale disasters. The virus is killing, sickening and frightening workers and devastating their extended families. In Grand Island, an outbreak linked to a JBS beef plant that is the city’s largest employer spread rapidly across the rural central Nebraska region. It killed more than three dozen people.
Many of the dead were elderly residents of long-term care facilities who had relatives or friends employed at the plant.
Reporting by The Associated Press/Ryan J. Foley
LOOK: COVID-19 hospitalization by county, deaths by race/ethnicity/gender
Hy-Vee donates 32,000 bananas to local families
Hy-Vee is making sure the metro is getting it's source of potassium tonight.
They gave away 32,000 bananas today at the Southridge Mall in Des Moines.
The produce were given out by the southeast 14th Street entrance of the mall parking lot.
They donated a dozen bananas to each family who showed up to help those feeling the impact of the coronavirus.
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.
WATCH: Complete coronavirus coverage from Local 5 on YouTube