(Radio Iowa) — The American Red Cross is now testing all blood donations from Iowans for COVID-19 antibodies. Red Cross spokesman Joe Zydlo says the tests will let donors know if they have been exposed to coronavirus, plus, it’s another way to encourage people to donate a pint. Zydlo says, “There continues to be an urgent need for blood donations as our hospital partners resume surgeries and treatments that require blood products.” The F-D-A-authorized tests will run until further notice. Donors are expected to learn the results in seven-to-ten days. Zydlo says Red Cross chapters have received several calls from people who reported coronavirus symptoms but never took a test.

“I think this gives people peace of mind, but it’s also a sort of two-way street,” he says. “Number one, they can help by donating blood right now when we have an urgent need. Blood drives continue to be canceled. Hospitals are doing more procedures and surgeries. They’re going to need more blood. More people are on the roads. There could be more of a chance of trauma situations.” Zydlo says the testing will let donors know if they have the antibodies in their bloodstream.

“If they have those in their plasma and they want to come back in and maybe donate some plasma to help COVID-19 patients recover, or they may not have it. But at least it gives them peace of mind,” he says. If you don’t feel well, postpone donating blood. If you think you might have COVID-19, wait until you’re symptom-free for at least 28 days and feeling well before making a donation.

Zydlo says it’s important to note, the Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. Also, a positive antibody test results does -not- confirm infection or immunity, but it does indicate potential exposure to the virus.

The Iowa Department of Public Health reports as of 6-a.m. today (Wednesday), the number of Iowans who have tested positive for COVID-19 to-date, is 26,470. Of that total, 6,799 have a pre-existing condition. Authorities say two more people died from the virus since the last report, for a total of 690. Officials say 486 of the persons who have died to-date, had a pre-existing medical condition.

The number of Iowans who have tested negative is 239,751. Of those who had the virus, 16,716 have recovered. A total of 266,592 tests have been completed, while completed assessments number 774,842.

COVID-19 outbreaks at Long-Term Care facilities (LTC’s) is down to 30. Health officials say 892 staff/residents of those facilities have tested positive for the virus, 558 have recovered and 356 have died.

In southwest/western Iowa RMCC Region 4, seven patients are hospitalized (1 more than Tues), two are in an ICU, there were two new admissions, and one person remains on a ventilator. Statewide the numbers continue to decline, with 140 hospitalized, 43 in an ICU, and 25 on ventilators. Seven people were admitted to a hospital over the past 24-hours, for a total at 21 new admissions.

In the immediate KJAN listening area, the only changes in positive COVID-19 cases and the number of persons who have recovered, are as follows:

• Shelby County: 85 cases (an increase of 2 positive cases from Tuesday) 49 recovered (3 more than yesterday)
• Pottawattamie County: 626 cases w/427 recovered.

(Correction issued by Adams County S/O) – A traffic stop on a speeding vehicle a little after 2-a.m. today (Wednesday) in Adams County, resulted in the arrest of a man and a woman on drug charges. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports Zendell Gamblin, of Creston, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Operating a Vehicle without a valid license. And, Desiree Ladd, of Council Bluffs was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Prescription Medication.

Red Oak Police arrested five people over the past 24-hours. At around 1:30 this (Wednesday) morning, 49-year old Noble Gene Conn, of Cleveland, TN., and 50-year old James Keith Saufley, Jr., of Villisca, were arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 34 near Eastern Avenue. Saufley was arrested for Driving While Suspended and was being held on a $566 bond. Conn was arrested on a warrant out of Missouri for Passing Bad Checks/Fugitive from Justice. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond. Red Oak Police were assisted at the scene by Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

At around 6-p.m. Tuesday, Red Oak Police arrested 54-year old Richard Lee Lappegard, Jr., of Red Oak, for Domestic Assault/1st offense, a simple misdemeanor. His bond was set at $300. And, at around 4-p.m. Tuesday, 46-year old James Reed Mitroff II, and 65-year old Patricia Maureen Hawkins, both of Red Oak, were arrested in the 300 block of Broad Street. Mitroff was taken into custody for Violating a Protection Order. Hawkins was arrested for Aiding and abetting the violation of a protection order. Both were being held in the Montgomery County Jail, on $300 bond each.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s workplace safety agency says an inspection didn’t uncover any violations at Tyson Foods’ largest pork processing plant, which employed several people who died after contracting the coronavirus. The Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration closed its investigation into the Tyson plant in Waterloo earlier this month without sanctioning the meat company.County officials and workers have alleged that in March and early April, Tyson workers did not have adequate personal protective equipment to stop the spread of the virus and were not social distancing. The company says it has taken numerous safety steps since then. Black Hawk County has said more than 1,000 of the Waterloo plant’s 2,800 workers had tested positive for the virus or antibodies by early May.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Within weeks of Gov. Kim Reynolds agreeing to allow bars and restaurants to open to customers, Iowa’s two major college towns are seeing spikes in coronavirus cases among young adults. The trend is raising concerns among local health officials and prompting some businesses to again close their doors. Business owners in Iowa have welcomed the governor’s move to end most restrictions that had been imposed over the spring to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but some in Ames and Iowa City now are unsure what to do as cases rise. The cities are home to Iowa State University and the University of Iowa, the state’s largest colleges.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two organizations filed a lawsuit that seeks to stop a 24-hour waiting period for abortions that was approved by Iowa lawmakers in the closing hours of the legislative session. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and a doctor represented by Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa filed the suit Tuesday in state court. The suit seeks to block the measure and to impose a temporary injunction to stop it from taking effect July 1. The groups filing the suit expect the bill to be signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds, who is an outspoken opponent of abortion rights. The waiting period was approved on the last day of a shortened legislative session.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration has recalled bagged salad distributed to a dozen Midwestern states by Hy-Vee, Aldi and Jewel-Osco grocery stores after 122 people in seven states were sickened. Nineteen have been hospitalized. The salad mix is contaminated with cyclospora, a parasite that can cause severe diarrhea. The salad mix is packaged as Hy-Vee Brand Garden Salads, Jewel-Osco Signature Farms Brand Garden Salads ALDI Little Salad Bar Brand Garden Salads. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the most people sickened are in Iowa with 54 and Illinois with 30. Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin also have reported illnesses.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — (In an update to our earlier reports) The Food and Drug Administration has recalled bagged salad distributed to a dozen Midwestern states by Hy-Vee, Aldi and Jewel-Osco grocery stores after 122 people in seven states were sickened. Nineteen have been hospitalized. The salad mix is contaminated with cyclospora, a parasite that can cause severe diarrhea.

The salad mix is packaged as Hy-Vee Brand Garden Salads, Jewel-Osco Signature Farms Brand Garden Salads ALDI Little Salad Bar Brand Garden Salads.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the most people sickened are in Iowa with 54 and Illinois with 30. Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin also have reported illnesses.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will hold a special, electronic meeting 6-p.m. Wednesday, via YouTube. On their agenda, is discussion with regard to: A Return to Learn plan; IASB Legislative Priorities for the 2021 Legislative Session, and the August 2020 Board retreat.

Action items include a review and payment of FY 2020 bills, a proposal request for the Atlantic Athletic Facilities Project, and contract recommendations for: Ashley Coffman, Middle School Special Education Teacher, and a transfer for Marnie Leiferman to Title 1 Teacher.

Any member of public can view the meeting live on YouTube at the following link:  https://youtu.be/HIfWA8cHPos

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s workplace safety agency says an inspection didn’t uncover any violations at Tyson Foods’ largest pork processing plant, where several employees died after contracting the coronavirus.The Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration closed its investigation into the Tyson plant in Waterloo earlier this month without sanctioning the meat company.

Tyson’s Fresh Meat workers file in for a tour of safety measures put into place after the plant had to shut down due to a Covid 19 outbreak, Wednesday, May 6, 2020, in Waterloo, Iowa. On Tuesday, state officials announced that nearly 1,400 workers at three Tyson Foods pork processing plants in Iowa had tested positive for the virus. (Brandon Pollock/The Courier via AP)

County officials and workers have alleged that in March and early April, Tyson workers did not have adequate personal protective equipment to stop the spread of the virus and were not social distancing. The company says it has taken numerous safety steps since then. Black Hawk County has said more than 1,000 of the Waterloo plant’s 2,800 workers had tested positive for the virus or antibodies by early May.

Six new, positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Pottawattamie County. PCPH officials say one individual is from Crescent, one is from Avoca, and four are from Council Bluffs. One person is 18-to 40 years of age, two are 41-to 60, and three are 61-to 80 years old. They were tested between June 18th and 22nd. The new cases brings to 630 the number of confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis in the county. When epi-linked cases are factored-in, the total is 689.**

PCPH says 188 of the positive cases occurred through community spread. Officials say 213 persons are self-isolating, six are hospitalized and 445 have recovered.

The latest demographics on case positives show the following have tested positive for COVID-19:

• 341 men
• 348 women
• 52 are persons 17 and under
• 302 are age 18-40
• 217 range in age from 41-60
• 103 are age 61-80
• 15 are 81 or older.

**An epi-link (or epidemiologically linked) individual can be epi-linked if their physician or PCPH assumes they have the virus based on close contact with a confirmed case and the demonstration of COVID-19 symptoms. Epi-linked cases are not confirmed by laboratory testing.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors  met at 9-a.m. Tuesday. During their in-person and electronic session, the Board discussed the position on the Cass County veteran affairs commission which ends June 30th. Following discussion, the Board voted unanimously to re-appoint Terry Duggan of Griswold to the Cass County Commission of Veteran Affairs for 3-year term beginning July 1, 2020.

The board also discussed the issue of ‘abandoned’ vehicles parked along Highway 92, just north of Massena.  Cass County Auditor/Board Secretary Dale Sunderman says Supervisor Frank Waters reported that it appears five of the vehicles are parked in State right of way, and three, one with license plate, are parked on private property.  Since the DOT is working on the issue and has notified the persons believed to own the vehicles that are in the State right of way, the board decided it would postpone going forward until the vehicles’ owners respond to the DOT’s request.