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News and resources regarding COVID-19

News 4.24.20: Iowa Governor Looks to Ease Restrictions as Cases of COVID-19 Continue to Surge

4pm_news.mp3
SPM NEWS 4.24.20 - 4:04PM

As the state of Iowa reports the biggest one-day total of deaths and cases of COVID-19, Governor Kim Reynolds plans to ease a couple of restrictions in the state.

Starting on Monday, she will allow elective surgeries to resume and give farmer’s markets the go ahead to open with restrictions.  That’s also the day she plans to announce phase one of reopening the state.  However, she says that could change depending on the progression of the pandemic.

The number of cases in Woodbury County also surged on Friday.  They increased by more than 80 percent with 129 new positive results for a total of 287.  Dakota County has passed Woodbury County in confirmed cases.  On Friday, there were 50 more confirmed cases for a total of 295.

Health officials locally and at the state level say the numbers increased because of more testing.

Gov. Kristi Noem says she will extend an executive order for two more weeks telling people in Minnehaha and Lincoln counties to stay home if they are vulnerable to COVID-19.

The order only applies to people in the two counties who are over 65 or who have chronic health conditions.

There are more than 2,000 confirmed cases with a majority tied to an outbreak at Smithfield Foods in Sioux Falls.

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts says he doesn’t plan to close any of the state’s meatpacking plants, including one in Dakota City, despite a surge coronavirus cases.

Ricketts says he was concerned that shutting down the plants could hurt the state’s food supply and lead to “civil unrest” if residents suddenly lose access to meat.

The Iowa DNR extended the closure of campgrounds and other park facilities through May 14th.  However, state parks and forests remain open for day-use with visitors following social distancing rules.

(Extra stories from the Associated Press)

South Dakota health officials say they will still make a malaria drug widely available to treat COVID-19, even as the Food and Drug Administration warned doctors against prescribing it. In an alert, regulators flagged reports of serious side effects and death among patients taking hydroxychloroquine and the related drug chloroquine. Gov. Kristi Noem has pushed for widespread availability of hydroxychloroqine. She has encouraged a statewide clinical trial as well as made it available to COVID-19 patients if their doctor advises taking it. South Dakota received 1.2 million doses of the drug from the Strategic National Stockpile after President Donald Trump championed it as a potential treatment for COVID-19.

Officials at the University of Iowa are investigating the Sigma Chi chapter there after the fraternity was accused of holding a party in violation of the state's order banning gatherings of 10 or more people. The Press-Citizen reports the frat party allegedly took place March 28 with as many as 50 people and may have involved underaged drinking. Iowa City police confirmed receiving a report of a party at the Sigma Chi house, but said no officer responded to the scene. Sigma Chi Fraternity International did not immediately respond Friday to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Joe Biden has scored presidential endorsements from former Democratic Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson and other state party officials and activists. Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, announced the support in an email. In a statement, Nelson praises Biden as an advocate for our rural and urban communities alike. Nelson served as a senator from 2001 to 2013 and was Nebraska’s governor from 1991 to 1999. 

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