A traffic stop at around 9-p.m. Monday, in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of a Nebraska man on a Fremont County warrant. 26-year old Diego Miguel Juaquin, of Omaha, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation on an original, Possession of Marijuana charge. Juaquin was transported to Fremont County. Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies assisted Red Oak Police in handling the arrest and transport.

(Radio Iowa) – A University of Iowa researcher says the country could reopen more quickly and safely if everyone wore a clear plastic face shield. Doctor Michael Edmond, chief quality officer at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, says a universal face shield may reduce coronavirus transmission and could allow relaxing of social distancing measures. Edmond, a U-I infectious disease professor, says face shields have several advantages.

“They’re more durable than face masks,” Edmond says. “The medical face masks really don’t last very long at all. Cloth masks can be reused and laundered, but face shields can just be wiped off.” Face shields cover the eyes and prevent people from touching their faces, and face shields are readily available. Edmond says he’s working on modeling studies to determine if his theories on face shield use prove valid.

“If every person were in a face shield, we would reduce transmission of the virus to the point that some of these other more drastic things that we have to do like restricting people’s movements, those could be relaxed somewhat.” Volunteers in Iowa are making cloth masks and plastic face shields by the thousands for distribution to hospital workers, paramedics and other first responders.

(Reporting by Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) — Iowans will learn late this (Tuesday) morning if more businesses in their area may open this weekend. Some of the closures Governor Reynolds ordered are set to expire this Friday, May 15th. “I’ve been really impressed with not only what our business community has done, our church community has done as well as Iowans in general,” Reynolds says, “and so we can continue, I think, to lessen the restrictions and open up our state and start to begin in a thoughtful, safe and purposeful way to continue to reopen our economy.”

Restaurants in 77 counties were allowed to reopen dining areas, at limited capacity, on May 1st, but bars statewide have had to stay closed. Hair and nail salons as well as barbershops have remained under the governor’s closure order as well. “Iowans have been incredibly responsible…as they’re continuing to practice social distancing. I think they’re wearing face coverings when they’re not able to practice the social distancing,” Reynolds says. “We are seeing businesses be very thoughtful and cautious about how they start to reopen.”

Retail shops that sell clothes, shoes, furniture and flowers were allowed to reopen this past weekend. Malls and fitness centers could reopen, too — but all at limited capacity to allow for customers and patrons to maintain proper distancing. The latest report from the state indicates 271 Iowans have died of COVID-19 and more than 12-thousand Iowans have tested positive for the virus. A total of 32 long term care facilities have outbreaks of the coronavirus among residents.