(Radio Iowa) — Sioux City Police have announced several staff members have tested positive for COVID-19, but officials are not releasing the exact number of employees affected or what their positions or roles may be within the department. Sergeant Jeremy McClure says the department just learned of the positive results yesterday (Thursday). “We wanted to make sure that we’re being transparent and then also review the proceedures we have in place to ensure that we are following the best practices to protect the public and our officers,” McClure says.

“The important thing is right now our capabilities to provide essential services have not been impacted and we continue to monitor our employees’ health.” McClure says the department has enough staff to respond to 9-1-1 calls and other calls for service in Sioux City. “Officers have been sanitizing equipment and cars regularly and then as of today, officers will be wearing masks when interacting with the public and co-workers,” McClure says, “just to ensure that we’re being as safe as possible and minimizing the risk.”

Sioux City Police Department employees who tested positive for COVID-19 are recovering in isolation, according to McClure. He says the entire staff has NOT been tested. “Any employees that we think may possibly may be getting sick, we’ve been working with an over abundance of caution and providing them the resources they need to take care of themselves whether that’s self-isolating or any other resources we can provide to them,” McClure says, “just to protect them and the other staff members.”

It appears Sioux City’s police department may be the first law enforcement agency in the state to have staff test positive for COVID-19. The president of the Iowa State Sheriffs and Deputies Association told The Des Moines Register on Wednesday he was unaware of any Iowa deputy or officer testing positive for the virus.

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

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is urging residents to focus on what they can do individually to stop the spread of the coronavirus and less about whether she will have to order further restrictions to fight the outbreak. Reynolds told reporters that “sometimes everyone is getting so hung up on the metrics” guiding the state’s response, including whether local stay-at-home orders may become necessary. Reynolds said Iowans should focus “first and foremost” on increasing compliance with the social distancing guidelines she has emphasized, including staying home whenever possible. She said if Iowans do that, the conversation will eventually shift to “how we can start to open things back up.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state group voted Thursday to extend the Iowa Legislature’s adjournment until April 30. The 24-member Iowa Legislative Council, which makes rules when the legislative body isn’t in session, voted in a telephone conference call to extend the recess as concerns remain over the increasing number of coronavirus cases in the state. Legislators in March passed a resolution that prevented meetings until April 15. The number of Iowans testing positive for COVID-19 increased by 125 cases on Thursday to a total of 1,270.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A historic surge in unemployment claims continued last week in Iowa as more workers lost their jobs in an economy devastated by the coronavirus. The U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday that 67,334 people in Iowa filed for unemployment benefits in the week that ended April 4. That is roughly the population of Waterloo, Iowa’s sixth largest city. The labor department said the claims were a 20 percent increase over those filed in Iowa the prior week, which had been a high for the state. Pandemic-related layoffs in several industries, from health care to food services, were driving factors behind Iowa’s claims.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A 28-year-old Chicago man who killed his girlfriend’s son has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. Tre Henderson was sentenced Wednesday in the May 2018 death of 5-year-old Ja’Shawn Russell in Davenport. Henderson was convicted in February of first-degree murder and two child endangerment charges. Henderson indicated he will appeal his conviction and sentence. An autopsy found the boy died of blunt force trauma. His mother, Jacqueline Majanise Rambert, was sentenced in March to 50 years in prison for two child endangerment charges.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state group voted Thursday to extend the Iowa Legislature’s adjournment until April 30. The 24-member Iowa Legislative Council, which makes rules when the legislative body isn’t in session, voted in a telephone conference call to extend the recess as concerns remain over the increasing number of coronavirus cases in the state.

Legislators in March passed a resolution that prevented meetings until April 15. The number of Iowans testing positive for COVID-19 increased by 125 cases on Thursday to a total of 1,270.

Easter and spring holidays are a traditional time of family gatherings, celebrations and observances. Like many other events and activities, Southwest Iowa Public Health officials advise residents that these observances should be different this year. Cass County Public Health Director Beth Olsen says “We know many families gather together over Easter and Passover, but, like school, shopping and most other activities, we’re asking residents to modify their plans in light of COVID-19.”

Gatherings of family and friends, whether locally or by travel to other states, is discouraged. When people come together, the chances of spreading the COVID-19 virus grow. Although people with symptoms of the virus (coughing, fever and shortness of breath) obviously should not be around other people; even those who are seemingly well should do the same.

Olsen says “We are learning that some people with coronavirus don’t have any symptoms, and that even those who later develop symptoms can pass the virus to others before showing symptoms. This is why even people who do not feel ill should stay home.” Families and friends are encouraged to find alternate ways to observe holidays and to stay connected. Try Skype, Zoom, FaceTime or other electronic means of connecting. Phone calls and letters are especially welcome during this time of social distancing.

As of today (April 9th), there are no cases of COVID-19 in Cass County. The Cass County Health Department continues to work closely with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), and other state and local partners to respond to this ongoing pandemic. There is one confirmed case of COVID-19 in Mills County. The Mills County Health Department continues to work closely with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), and other state and local partners to respond to this ongoing pandemic

For up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit the IDPH webpage at https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus and follow the department on Facebook at @IowaDepartmentOfPublicHealth and on Twitter at @IAPublicHealth.

The Iowa State Patrol, today (Thursday), released the name of a man who died Tuesday evening, when the motorcycle he was riding collided with an SUV in Page County.  72-year-old Gary Wayne Taylor, Sr., of Shenandoah died at the scene of the accident near the intersection of Highway 2 and C Avenue.

Taylor was riding a 2013 Harley Davidson cycle that hit an SUV broadside when the SUV slowed to turn left from Highway 2 onto C Avenue. The driver of the SUV, 72-year old Micheal Gene Flynn, of Shenandoah, was not injured in the crash.