(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Democrats are calling on Governor Kim Reynolds to let local school districts with rising Covid cases require face coverings to try to stop the spread of the virus. Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls is a Democrat from Coralville. “If we learned anything about the fight against Covid-19, it’s that one-size-fits-all policies don’t work,” Wahls says.  The number of Covid cases among kids is on the rise — Iowans under the age of 18 accounted for 22 percent of the new Covid cases confirmed in Iowa this past week. Reynolds says the state law she signed in May forbids mask mandates in schools — so parents decide whether their child wears a mask at school. “They will make an informed decision on what’s the best thing for their child,” Reynolds says, “and that’s where I believe it needs to stay.”

Reynolds says she’s heard from parents who say mask wearing has harmed their kids. Representative Ross Wilburn of Ames, who is the Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, says many respected public health institutions are recommending masks in schools. “The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic and the Centers for Disease Control, just to name a few have all recommended a multi part approach in responding to the pandemic and that includes masks,” Wilburn says.

Governor Reynolds says such a recommendation would be meaningless because school mask mandates are illegal. “It doesn’t really matter because it’s a law at this point,” Reynolds says. “…It is a law that elected officials that are elected by Iowans and constituents across this state listened to the people that they represent, passed a bill, sent it to my desk and it was signed into law.” Reynolds says vaccinations are the best tool for combating Covid-19. Earlier this month, the Iowa Department of Public Health issued an advisory that warns Iowans not to use a horse drug as treatment for Covid.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – With COVID-19 cases on the rise again across Iowa and much of the country, testing supplies are in high demand. Cass Health Laboratory Director Mitch Whiley, says the supply of rapid tests are being limited these days, after a sufficient supply was on-hand earlier this summer.

He says the determination of who gets the rapid tests is driven by their test suppliers.

In Cass County, outpatient testing options include free home testing kits from Test Iowa, and Outpatient testing at Cass Health. The home test kits can be ordered from testiowa.com, or picked up from Cass County Public Health.

The saliva-based test results are typically available 48-hours after it is received by the State. Outpatient testing according to Whiley, is appropriate for those persons who need to be tested prior to travel, prior to a medical procedure, or who are mildly ill. The tests will be offered by appointment at Cass Health, and then sent on to a reference laboratory for processing. Results typically take 48-to-72-hours, and are delivered in the patient’s MyChart account.

Whiley says the manufacturer who makes Cass Health’s COVID tests, also makes the Flu and RSV Tests. He says RSV has been hitting hospitals hard, lately, so that impacts the amount of tests available.

Whiley says to help prevent the spread of illnesses, all patients with symptoms who are tested for COVID-19, should isolate themselves while they wait for their result. For more information about COVID-19, visit coronavirus.iowa.gov.

The Creston Police Department (Friday, 9/3), reports a Ringgold County man was arrested Thursday afternoon. 39-year-old Benjaman Lee Hunsucker, of Benton, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a charge of Violation of No Contact/Protective Order – Contempt, Stalking – Violation of Protective Order, Harassment – 1st Degree. Hunsucker was being held in the jail without bond, pending an appearance before the Magistrate.