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News and resources regarding COVID-19

News 4.6.20: Iowa Increases COVID-19 Restrictions and Schools will Stay Closed in South Dakota

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds ordering more businesses to shut down to try and reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

The move includes camp grounds, bowling alley, playgrounds and malls.

Police will be given guidance this week on how to enforce the statewide ban on gatherings of more than 10 people.

Stephan Bayens, the commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, says misdemeanor charges are possible if people ignore warnings.

“Law enforcement is asking Iowans to take their responsibility seriously and police themselves so we can conserve our law enforcement resources for those who truly need it.”

The more aggressive moves come after Reynolds faced intense criticism in recent days for refusing to issue a statewide stay-at-home order as the number of cases increases.

Governor Kim Reynolds says she had a phone call today with Doctor Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s top infectious disease expert.

She says Fauci, quote, “was 100 percent supportive, saying that Iowa and Nebraska are on the same page with guidance he’s providing other states.”

Reynolds said Friday that Fauci possibly didn’t have all the information about Iowa’s COVID-10 mitigation efforts.

Last week, Fauci said on CNN he doesn’t understand why all states don’t have formal shelter-in-place orders.

The Department of Public Health reporting three more deaths from COVID-19 for a total of twenty-five Iowans. 

The state has 78 more confirmed cases of coronavirus for a total of 946 positive cases in 75 counties.  

There are nine now in Woodbury County.  Several counties in northwest Iowa still have no confirmed cases.

Currently, 99 people are hospitalized with the illness and 80 have been discharged and are recovering. Nearly 10,000 negative tests have been reported.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem announced she’s recommending all school in the state to be closed and online learning be continued through the rest of the year.

There are almost 300 confirmed cases in South Dakota and four deaths including a state lawmaker.

More than 160 city and county officials from across South Dakota are urging Gov. Kristi Noem to have the Department of Health declare a public health emergency in response to the coronavirus.

The South Dakota Municipal League has sent a letter signed by officials from 164 municipalities to the Republican governor.

They say that without the declaration of a public health emergency, they don’t have the power to take actions necessary for deal with the pandemic.

Noem has said she wants to leave it up to cities and counties to enforce restrictions on businesses. 

Nebraska has more than 400 cases and eight deaths.

And, Governor Pete Ricketts warns of a potential increase in domestic violence and abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He urged citizens to look for signs of abuse and violence. 

The Board of Supervisors and the Sioux City Council are expected to vote this week on a design contract for the new Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center.

The contract with Goldberg Group Architects is for about $3,000,000.

The company from St. Louis specializing with criminal justice projects.

The total estimate for the new LEC is $50.3 million dollars.