304 news 082720
Today, Gov. Kim Reynolds has closed all bars, breweries, and nightclubs in six Iowa counties with a coronavirus case spike.
"Those counties include Blackhawk, Polk, Linn, Johnson, Story, and Dallas. Restaurants in those counties can remain open, but they must also stop selling alcohol after 10 p.m. each night.”
Reynolds cited high positive test rates among young adults age 19 to 24 in Johnson County and Story counties, home of the University of Iowa and Iowa State. Nearly three-fourths of the positive cases there were in that younger age group.
The order goes into effect at 5 p.m. today and will remain in effect until September 20. The governor is not mandating mask-wearing as she says that it is unenforceable.
Iowa has set a new record for confirmed coronavirus cases, far more than the previous high set in April. In the last 24 hours as of this morning, Iowa recorded 1,475 confirmed cases, surpassing the April 25 total of 1,284. There have also been 18 deaths.
Siouxland District Health today is reporting death for a total of 55 on their website and 11 more cases of COVID 19.
A Woodbury County judge will hold a hearing at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow that pits President Donald Trump and the national Republican Party against Woodbury County Auditor Pat Gill. The Republican party is suing Gill for his choice to pre-populate absentee ballot request forms and the use of ballot drop off boxes.
A similar hearing took place today in Linn County, which also pre-populated absentee ballot requests. The judge hearing the case says he will rule on the matter as soon as possible.
