DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republican legislative leaders say they are not planning on curtailing the legislative session due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus. Some Iowa Democratic senators have encouraged Republican leaders to consider suspending the current session or going home early.

The latest report from the Iowa Dept. of Public Health, says 16 people have tested positive for COVID-19, but the risk to the public in Iowa remains low. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver and House Speaker Pat Grassley say plans are for the session to proceed as usual. It’s scheduled to run through April 21. The Capitol remains open to the public.

Atlantic, IA – Cass County Health System now has a hotline available for the public to address concerns about COVID-19 testing. People can call 712-243-7479 to listen to a recorded message about the current COVID-19 testing criteria. As the COVID-19 situation continues to change, the hotline will be updated with relevant information for the public.

At this time, the only people who can be tested for COVID-19 are:
· symptomatic people (i.e. have a fever, cough or shortness of breath) who had close contact with a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 within 14 days of symptom onset OR
· symptomatic people requiring hospitalization and a history of travel from affected geographic areas within 14 days of symptom onset OR
· symptomatic people with severe acute lower respiratory illness (e.g., pneumonia, ARDS) requiring hospitalization and without alternative explanatory diagnosis (e.g., influenza) and no source of exposure identified.

Officials say the need for COVID-19 testing will determined by your healthcare provider. If you are concerned about your symptoms and you meet these criteria, please call 712-243-3250.

The Iowa Department of Public Health says it is committed to taking critical steps to ensure long term care facility residents are protected from communicable diseases, including Novel Coronavirus [COVID-19].

Because older adults and those with chronic medical conditions are at highest risk for serious complications from COVID-19, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) encourages long term care facilities to align their practices with recent guidance issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services which limits non-essential visitors to long term care facilities. In addition, IDPH is requesting that long term care facilities report to the department when greater than two staff or residents are ill with respiratory symptoms without another diagnosis.

The Department further encourages long term care facilities to implement additional visitor limitation protocols as deemed necessary to protect the life and safety of their residents.

The CMS Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 is available here.

DES MOINES – Testing at Iowa’s State Hygienic Laboratory has indicated two additional positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iowa residents, a total of 16 positive cases. An additional 16 tests were negative.  According to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) both cases are tied to the same Egyptian cruise as other positive cases. Both are older adults (61 – 80 years), one is from Johnson County and one is from Carroll County. Both are recovering at home in isolation. And, as previously mentioned, one case is in Pottawattamie County, separate from the other test positives.

IDPH also put out guidance to PK-12 school administrators on COVID19 policies, linked here.

Gov. Reynolds said Thursday, “The health and safety of our students, teachers, and faculty is a top priority. At this time, the Iowa Department of Public Health is not advising any school closures. We are finalizing key decision points needed to mitigate COVID19 to provide school districts with thorough guidance. This situation remains very fluid, and we will continue to equip local school districts with the information they need. If any school districts have questions or concerns, please reach out to IDPH.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines Public Schools, Iowa’s largest school district, will cancel all classes and activities for at least 17 days starting Friday evening. The news Thursday came as health officials announced two new cases of COVID-19 in Iowa, bring the state’s total to 16. In a letter sent to staff, Superintendent Thomas Ahart announced Thursday that classes wouldn’t immediately return after spring break next week. Ahart expressed hope that classes could resume March 30 but given the “dynamic situation,” officials would have to adjust as needed. The move will effect the district’s 33,000 students and 5,000 employees. The school district’s decision comes as many colleges are taking similar actions.

(Radio Iowa) — A coalition of organizations is lobbying legislators to expand the state’s trail system. Iowa Bicycle Coalition executive director Mark Wyatt says the governor’s plan to raise the state sales tax would place money in the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Fund. “Greater investment in trails through the ‘Invest in Iowa Act’ will only accelerate the community and workforce development that we do need in this state,” Wyatt says. “But most of all, Iowa trails make Iowa a great place to live.”

Groups pushing to convert abandoned railroad lines to trails are joining with members of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and economic development officials to stress the need for improved access to spots for hiking, biking and swimming. Wyatt says many towns that have developed trail systems have seen the economic impact and health benefits.

“Because people that get physical activity often are healthier,” Wyatt says. Wyatt says a study his group did nine years ago found bicycle trails created an annual impact of 365 million dollars. Representative Andy McKean of Anamosa joined the groups at a news conference on the statehouse steps. He says investing in trails reaps tremendous dividends. “We’ve been chasing smokestacks and in many cases giving away useless tax credits instead of taking a good, hard look at the quality of life issues that attract and keep young people in our state,” McKean says. “And trails rank way up there in that equation.”

Governor Kim Reynolds is holding a town hall meeting in Ankeny tonight (Thursday) to discuss her “Invest in Iowa Act” which includes more money for trails. It also would lower some taxes, but raise the state sales tax and it’s unclear if the legislature will vote for the plan.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Supreme Court has thrown out a lawsuit by a Sioux City woman who lost her arm to flesh-eating bacteria. Sharon Susie fell and injured her arm in 2012 and went to the urgent care clinic of Family Health Care of Siouxland. An x-ray found only swelling in the arm and she was told to ice it. Susie got worse the next day and was taken to Mercy Medical Center.

Doctors found the flesh-eating bacteria and amputated her arm and eight toes. Susie filed a lawsuit that claimed she would not have lost the arm if she had been given antibiotics at the clinic. The district court threw the case out saying the expert witness in the case could not directly tie the lack of antibiotics to the loss of her arm.

The State Appeals Court overturned that ruling. The Iowa Supreme Court sided with the district court — saying no expert witness provided testimony that getting antibiotics any earlier would have allowed her to save her arm.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State budget experts have reduced the estimated revenue for the state by $12.3 million from their December calculation. That means lawmakers must make a slight adjustment to their plans for the 2021 fiscal year starting in July. With an ending balance of more than $400 million, the adjustment won’t be significant.

The Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference now estimates revenue at $8.24 billion, or $146 million more than the current year. Iowa’s budget director David Roederer says the coronavirus isn’t likely to affect 2020 fiscal year and the revenue impact on the fiscal year starting in July is difficult to predict.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines Public Schools, Iowa’s largest school district, will cancel all classes and activities for at least 17 days starting Friday evening. In a letter sent to staff, Superintendent Thomas Ahart announced Thursday that classes wouldn’t immediately return after spring break next week.

Ahart expressed hope that classes could resume March 30 but given the “dynamic situation,” officials would have to adjust as needed. The move will effect the district’s 33,000 students and 5,000 employees. The school district’s decision comes as many colleges are taking similar actions.

Officials with the Audubon County Hospital and Clinics said Thursday (today), “To protect our patients, families, and health care workers during the global outbreak of COVID-19 the following temporary visitor restrictions are being implemented effective immediately (3/12/20).”

The visitor restrictions are temporary and subject to change as necessary. Only primary caregivers will beallowedto visit patients. Primary caregivers must be at least 18 years of age and older and include: Parents/stepparents, spouse/significant other or other defined caregiver.

Visitors must be screened by nursing staff before visiting the patient at least once per day. The visitor must be free from illness such as fever, sore throat, cough, diarrhea, vomiting, or runny nose. Visitors must remain in patient rooms as appropriate and limit movement within the facility.Exceptions may be made in certain situations as approved by the patient care team. All visitors are required to wash hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer upon entering and exiting the patient’s room.

Officials said also, that “Effective Friday, March 13 at 9:30 p.m. the ACMH Fitness Center will be closed to the public until further notice”

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports 40-year old Jason Paul Rodriguez, a/k/a “Chico,” of Council Bluffs, was sentenced today (Thursday) in Council Bluffs U-S District Court. Rodriguez will serve 30 years in for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The prison terms for each conviction will be served concurrently. Hewill serve 10 years of supervised release after his prison term.

Authorities say Rodriguez organized and led a large-scale drug trafficking operation from 2016 until his arrest in April 2019. Rodriguez and his co-conspirators distributed more than 220 pounds of methamphetamine. Co-defendants Lacey Jo Smalley and Erik M. Barber have pleaded guilty and will be sentenced at a later date. The conspiracy involved dozens of others and the investigation is ongoing.

Rodriguez was arrested on April 30, 2019, following a traffic stop. A drug dog alerted law enforcement to the presence of approximately eleven pounds of methamphetamine in the vehicle. $14,933.55 in cash was also seized.

The case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, South West Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, Council Bluffs Police Department, Clarinda Police Department, Audubon Police Department, Omaha Police Department, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Page County Sheriff’s Office, Audubon County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Intelligence, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.