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Gov. Reynolds 'still reviewing' information, will announce new reopening changes Wednesday

The governor also updated the public on Iowa's current testing capabilities. A new TestIowa site will open in Storm Lake on Saturday.

IOWA, USA — Iowans will have to wait another day for Gov. Kim Reynolds to announce further loosening of coronavirus restrictions.

Reynolds said Monday she would be announcing reopening information on Tuesday. That didn't happen.

"I know that Iowans and businesses are eager to know what's next. But as I've said all along, these decisions must be made carefully and driven by data, and I look forward to providing that update tomorrow," Reynolds said on Tuesday.

This all comes after the Iowa Department of Public Health reported another spike in new cases.

As of Tuesday, another 539 Iowans contracted the virus and and 2,957 more tested negative. The total number of Iowans tested Monday is 3,496.

A total of 289 Iowans have died and 12,912 have tested positive. 

Statewide, 81,288 Iowans have been tested for the virus. There are 385 Iowans currently in the hospital, and 5,618 have recovered.

RELATED: Live COVID-19 updates: Businesses await decision on reopening; UnityPoint Health to test all admitted patients

Reynolds didn't specify if the sudden spike was the reason. Instead she said she wanted to use extra time to make her decision since the current restrictions won't expire until Friday.

"I want to continue to look at the data and work with the Department of Public Health and our team. We're seeing some positive trends we're seeing in downward trends, we're seeing our hospitalization rates stabilized and as we begin to, continue to reopen the state of Iowa. We're really going to be basing it on our ability to manage our resources and not overwhelm our healthcare systems," Reynolds explained.

She continued, "And because of Iowans response and what we've been able to put together with unprecedented collaborations between our healthcare systems we are in really good shape."

Reynolds said her and her team will continue to look at trends before they make an official announcement on Wednesday.

RELATED: Dr. Fauci warns of serious consequences if US reopens too soon

The governor also shed some light on why there was a spike in Iowans contracting the virus. Of Tuesday's 539 new cases, 319 were among Iowans that were tested in Nebraska between April 28 and 30. They're all tied to a processing plant.

"They were notified of the results, certainly after being tested but the reporting back to the state of Iowa was just delayed. But we do have so those are included in today's case counts," Reynolds said.

So, why the two-week delay for these results? Sarah Reisetter with the IDPH said she wasn't sure.

"The information that was, that the governor talked about earlier today, these were test results that were in the custody of the state of Nebraska and so I can't speak to their processes and the reason for the delay and transferring that information to the state of Iowa," Reisetter said.

She continued, "So we're grateful that we have it at this particular point in time, as the governor mentioned, we do believe that the employees were, did receive their test result, but this will allow Iowa staff in the local public health agency to start doing that contact tracing and case investigation, so we can help to identify any close contacts those individuals may have had and try to give them appropriate public health guidance."

"In terms of whether it meets the standard of an outbreak at this particular point in time, I haven't had an opportunity to analyze the total number of employees in that facility, but that is also a facility that is not located in the state of Iowa," Reisetter explained.

"If there is one thing that COVID-19 has shown us, it's the little things that we likely took for granted that made our life seem normal, like taking the family out for dinner, having the grandkids over for a sleepover, or just seeing them off to school," Reynolds reflected.

"And while so much has changed in a short period of time, it's hard to believe it's just been two months," she said.

Reynolds then detailed Iowa's testing efforts as of Tuesday. She said 699 ventilators are available as well as 451 ICU beds. She then assured those watching that Iowa's health care system is ready.

"Testing is happening across all of Iowa. In fact, since March we've increased our testing and processing capacity at the State Hygienic Lab over 800%," she explained. 

"We've gone from 300 a day, processing 300 a day to 1300 a day to 3,800 a day. We've deployed strike teams to conduct surveillance testing and communities where virus activity is increasing, and by the end of the week, we'll have opened eight test sites," Reynolds said.

The newest TestIowa site will open Saturday in Storm Lake in Buena Vista County.

Credit: Gov. Kim Reynolds' Office
This map shows TestIowa sites as well as where strike teams are at as of May 12, 2020.

Reisetter also explained how Iowa is utilizing it's 400 vials of remdesivir, a treatment for COVID-19. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization for the drug on May 1.

RELATED: VERIFY: What is remdesivir?

Iowa is one of six states receiving the drug. Reisetter said it's been shown in clinical trials to shorten recovery time for some patients. 

Reisetter also said that one patient could require six or 11 vials for treatment, depending on their needs. That means Iowa has enough remdesivir to treat 36-66 patients. 

As of Tuesday, there are 385 Iowans hospitalized from COVID-19, according to the IDPH's website.

The State Hygienic Lab will distribute the treatment, Reisetter said. Reisetter also listed out the criteria the IDPH will be looking at before deciding to send remdesivir to an area:

  • number of hospitalized patients in area
  • number of ICU patients
  • trends of those numbers over the last month
  • trends of disease activity over the last two weeks
  • available resources, i.e. equipment and personnel
  • potential side effects of the drug

"We're consulting with infectious disease clinicians, pharmacists and hospitals across the state in establishing these criteria as we work to quickly distribute the medicine," she said.

Reisetter continued, "We will continue to share lessons learned and insights as we move forward with managing this medication, and any additional resources we might receive in Iowa, healthcare providers and patients receiving the information or the medication will get detailed fact sheets from the FDA about the medicine so they know how to administer it and what to expect."

Hospitalized patients with severe disease will be given the drug intravenously by a health care provider. Severe disease is defined as a patient with low blood oxygen levels or who need oxygen therapy or more intensive breathing support such as a mechanical ventilator, Reisetter said.

RELATED: Iowa is 1 of 6 states receiving remdesivir, a drug being used to treat COVID-19

WATCH: Complete press conference from May 12, 2020

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