With the number of COVID-19 cases in the state rising to 22, Governor Kim Reynolds is recommending the closure of Iowa schools for four weeks. “Based on new information today from the Iowa Department of Public Health, now is the time to move to the next level of response,” Gov. Reynolds stated. “I am now recommending that all Iowa schools close for a period of four weeks to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”
On Sunday, the Iowa Department of Public Health was notified of four additional positive cases in Iowa with two of the cases related to international travel; both people are residents of Allamakee County. One is an adult between 41-60 while the other is a child aged 0-18. The third case is a middle-age Johnson County resident with no identified travel-related risk or known exposure to COVID-19. The fourth individual lives in Polk County and is also a case of community spread.
One of Sunday’s new cases was the first Iowa test conducted by a national lab. With testing options now expanding, Iowa expects the numbers of positive cases to increase. The governor will hold a press conference Monday.