Health departments in the Sioux City metro report very few new cases of COVID-19.
There were no deaths. The current total for Woodbury and Dakota Counties is 73.
Woodbury saw two additional positive cases, for more than 3,000 in all. Dakota County recorded one more for more than 1,700. Union County recorded 113 positive cases.
The state of South Dakota tracked 84 new cases for 6,050 and 78 deaths.
There are more than 17,00 (17,031) positive cases in Nebraska and 231 residents who have died.
The Iowa coronavirus website showed more than 24,400 cases and 673 deaths as of this afternoon. There were nine deaths in a 24 hour period.
A summer program for students will not happen this year.
Siouxland Beyond the Bell, put out a notice on Facebook saying after countless hours of consideration they came to that decision. Because of restrictions put in place to keep others safe from COVID-19, they felt the program couldn’t give families the services they deserve.
Girls Inc. of Sioux City shortened their summer schedule with fewer students. Their program quickly filled up this year. Girls Inc. is providing families who need assistance free “Grab ‘n Go Dinners Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The meals are available for anyone age 18 and under, plus their parents or caregivers.
An outdoor graduation ceremony is planned for next Saturday, June 27th for Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City. The event is planned for 5 p.m. at Memorial Field. It will also be televised. The ceremony was originally planned for May 17th, but was cancelled because of the pandemic.
The University of Iowa has released updated information today on the school’s plans to resume classes this fall, with a blend of in-person and online instruction.
Unlike the other two regent universities which are starting a week early, the U-I intends to start classes on August 24th. All classes after Thanksgiving will be held virtually.
The school says it will coordinate with local public health officials on contact tracing and disease investigation, and will make testing available.
The U-I is also providing all students, faculty and staff with masks and a face shield. While inside campus buildings, all are required to wear face coverings, unless alone in a private office.
A tick-borne virus has been found in Iowa for the first time and the year’s first West Nile Virus case has been reported. The cases prompted public health officials Wednesday to urge residents to take precautions to avoid tick and mosquito bites. The first case of Heartland virus was found in an older adult in Appanoose County in southern Iowa. The tick-borne disease causes fever, fatigue, nausea and diarrhea. Iowa health officials also reported the season’s first case of the mosquito-borne West Nile Virus. The infected person is an adult from Polk County.
The head lifeguard at South Dakota’s largest outdoor water park tested positive for the coronavirus.
Wild Water West opened for the season on May 30th with guidelines in place to prevent the spread of the virus.
Employees who came in close contact with the lifeguard were told to self-monitor for symptoms.
This week the city of Sioux City announced plans to open the community’s three pools, with limitations on Monday.