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News and resources regarding COVID-19

PM Newscast 7.10.20: IA Number Surge, Testing Update, Catholic Church PPP, Tyson Complaint and More

CDC

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SPM NEWS 7.10.20 - 4:32PM

New positive coronavirus cases in Iowa have jumped by the highest one-day increase since May as state health department data also reflects increasing hospitalizations and patients in intensive care.

Known positive cases jumped by 744 during a 24-hour period that ended this morning.  There were more than 33,800 positive cases this afternoon.   There were 19 additional cases in Woodbury County and 4 more in Dakota County.

Testing through the Test Iowa program topped the 100,000 mark this week.  Governor Reynolds announced back in April, the state paid a group of Utah companies $26 million to supply the test kits.  The first test Iowa site opened in late April.  There are now 20 Test Iowa sites in the states, including drive-thru locations and clinics.  Reynolds says demand for testing is growing so they have exceeded testing capacity for the past two weeks.  The state goal was 3,000 tests per day.

The number of people hospitalized for the coronavirus in Nebraska has fallen to its lowest level since mid-April, but state officials say residents still need to exercise caution to keep the virus from spreading.

Nebraska’s hospitals were treating 97 patients as of Thursday, down from a high of 257 on May 27.

Officials confirmed 198 new cases of the virus on Thursday and two new deaths, bringing the state totals to 20,623 cases and 284 deaths since the pandemic began.

A group of advocacy organizations filed a civil rights complaint against Tyson Foods and meat packer JBS.  They say the companies discriminated against non-white workers.

The Sioux City Journal reports the complaint was filed this week.  It says the companies didn’t follow CDC guidance and only worried about making a quick profit and white executive were able to work remotely to avoid getting sick during the pandemic.

Tyson Foods sent Siouxland Public Media News a response to the allegations, it says in part, “we’re still reviewing the filing but can tell you our top priority is the health and safety of all our team members, their families and the communities where our plants are located. We’ve transformed the way our plants operate to protect our team members, implementing measures such as symptom screening before every shift.” 

(full statement below)

The Catholic Church received at least $1.4 million dollars in aid from the U.S. government according to the Associated Press.

Locally, in Sioux City, Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools and Holy Spirit Retirement home received $1-2 million dollars through the paycheck protection program according to information from the federal government.  Briar Cliff University received $1-2 million as well.  As reported on Wednesday, the largest loan went to Thompson Electric company for $5-$10 million dollars.

The trial for the man accused of killing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts two years ago has been moved to January 2021, and will now take place in Scott County.

In a court filing this afternoon, District Court Judge Joel Yates granted a motion from the defense and prosecution to move the trial to next year. The trial for Cristhian Bahena Rivera will take place January 25 at the Scott County Courthouse in Davenport.

There will be a pretrial conference on January 12th.

The trial was previously scheduled for September 29th in Woodbury County.

A west-central Iowa woman has been sentenced to one year of probation for holding a large party in May during a government-order ban on gatherings of 10 or more people. Television station WOI reported Friday that 38-year-old Charity Snavely was also sentenced earlier this month to 10 days in jail, but that sentence was suspended. Snavely pleaded guilty to a public health violation stemming from a May 23 party at her Rippey home in which police said she served 13 minors alcohol. At the time, Gov. Kim Reynolds had ordered a ban on such gatherings in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

South Dakota health officials say they will send 20 COVID-19 testing machines capable of producing tests in minutes to help carry out the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally amid the coronavirus pandemic. The 80th edition of the annual rally is expected to attract thousands of people to western South Dakota next month. About 500,000 people have shown up in previous years. The Rapid City Journal reports that the city council decided to cautiously proceed with the 10-day rally after realizing motorcycle enthusiasts were going to show up regardless. The Department of Health plans to send Abbott ID Now testing machines to the area.

Statement from Tyson Foods:

We’re still reviewing the filing but can tell you our top priority is the health and safety of all our team members, their families and the communities where our plants are located. We’ve transformed the way our plants operate to protect our team members, implementing measures such as symptom screening before every shift. 

 
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) recently announced that it “has seen progress in working environments for the nation’s meatpacking workers amid COVID-19…” The President of LULAC recently visited Northwest Arkansas to meet with our CEO and tour one of our plants, where he saw first-hand the protective measures we’ve implemented, from temperature checks and masks to workstation dividers and social distance monitors. President Garcia acknowledged Tyson Foods has “made significant strides.” 

 

Additional information about the measures we’ve taken during the pandemic are available on our Coronavirus Media Resource page. 

 

We’re still reviewing the filing but can tell you our top priority is the health and safety of all our team members, their families and the communities where our plants are located. We’ve transformed the way our plants operate to protect our team members, implementing measures such as symptom screening before every shift. 

 
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) recently announced that it “has seen progress in working environments for the nation’s meatpacking workers amid COVID-19…” The President of LULAC recently visited Northwest Arkansas to meet with our CEO and tour one of our plants, where he saw first-hand the protective measures we’ve implemented, from temperature checks and masks to workstation dividers and social distance monitors. President Garcia acknowledged Tyson Foods has “made significant strides.” 

 

Additional information about the measures we’ve taken during the pandemic are available on our Coronavirus Media Resource page.