The coronavirus continues to spread in Iowa. More than 500 people with COVID-19 have died in the state so far this month and 2,224 overall, according to the state department of health. There have been 82 cases added in the last 24 hours in Siouxland and one additional death of an elderly female. More than 4,500 residents of long term care centers are infected with the virus and 143 nursing homes reported coronavirus outbreaks today.
A week after implementing new mask requirements and limits on social gatherings Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds sounded more optimistic. Although Iowa's rates of infections remain high, she said the number of confirmed cases and the state's overall positivity rate declined this week.Reynolds asked all Iowans to keep safe over the holidays by social distancing, using hand sanitizer, and refraining from traveling if people are ill or test positive for the coronavirus.
The governor talked about dialing up the rules and regulations during times when COVID-19 was seen to spreading at a particularly high rate in certain areas. One reporter why she didn’t dial up sooner in October and Reynolds said the state had taken action in areas like college towns.
If you remember when we saw an uptick with our kids going back to school, and attending the bars, through case investigation we were able to target that to an area that we saw the spread.
The governor also talked about how Iowa would deliver the upcoming coronavirus vaccines in the coming months. Reynolds said the state would be looking to the Iowa Department of Public Health and the federal health officials about prioritizing vaccine delivery.
