Officials with Pottawattamie County Public Health today (Saturday), reported five new COVID-19 cases. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Pottawattamie County is now twenty-five. Seventeen individuals have recovered, seven are self-isolating at home, zero are currently hospitalized, and there has been one death.

The five new cases all reside in Council Bluffs and include three males and two females. These individuals were tested between April 13 and April 23. Two individuals are in the 41-60 age range, two are in the 18-40 age range, and one is a child between 0-17 years old. Two of them have pre-existing conditions and three do not. Two of these individuals have had contact with an existing COVID-19 case, and three were the result of community spread. All five of these individuals are self-isolating at home.

Pottawattamie County Public Health is conducting the contact tracing investigations and is in communication with the Iowa Department of Public Health. Pottawattamie County Public Health wants to draw attention to the fact that an increase in COVID-19 testing capacity will likely result in an increased number of positive COVID-19 cases. The total number of Iowans tested for COVID-19, along with positive and negative results, can be found at www.coronavirus.iowa.gov.

Governor Reynolds continues to encourage all Iowans, regardless of symptoms, to go to www.testIowa.com and complete the assessment. TestIowa is a new initiative designed to dramatically increase the rate of COVID-19 testing so Iowans can have better access to testing and help stem the spread of COVID-19 to get us back to normal as quickly as possible. In the first 48 hours nearly 121,000 Iowans completed the assessment.

The best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 is to stay at home as much as possible. Only leave home for essential reasons. Do not visit big box stores except for essential grocery and pharmaceutical needs. If you must leave home, practice social distancing, and stay at least six feet away from others. Implement excellent hygiene and disinfectant practices. Wash hands and disinfect frequently touched surfaces multiple times per day. Isolate if you are sick.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A major nursing home for veterans has reported its first two COVID-19 cases, which is a worrying development on a day in which cases hit a new daily high in the state. The home’s commandant says one resident tested positive Friday and another Saturday during mass testing at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. He says they were transferred immediately to the VA hospital in Des Moines for precautionary care.

Iowa reported Saturday that 648 more individuals have tested positive for the coronavirus, smashing the daily record set Friday of 521 even though hundreds fewer tests were completed. The total number of positive cases as of today (Saturday), is 5,092. There have been an additional 1,730 negative tests for a total of 29,258 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs.

The number of positive cases will continue to grow as Test Iowa sites open and additional surveillance testing of large businesses and nursing home staff continues.  According to IDPH, an additional 5 deaths were also reported, 293 are currently hospitalized, and 1,723 Iowans have recovered. At this time, 1 in 91 Iowans have already been tested.

According to IDPH the additional 5 deaths were reported in the following counties:

• Black Hawk County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
• Johnson County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Polk County, 1 older adult (61-80 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Scott County, 1 elderly adult (81+)

Note: A previously identified case in Clinton County upon further investigation is a resident of Illinois.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Now that Iowa’s governor will allow elective surgeries to resume next week, one of the state’s largest hospitals said it’s preparing to do so under conditions that will be the “new normal.” Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds said Friday that her first step in reopening Iowa’s economy after a lengthy shutdown caused by the coronavirus includes allowing elective surgeries to resume starting Monday.

Her proclamation also allows farmers markets to resume. University of Iowa Health Care said in a statement that while elective procedures will resume Friday, it will hardly be a return to normal.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — One person is dead after fire broke out at a home in northeastern Iowa. The Charles City Fire Department said the blaze was reported about 2:20 a.m. Saturday. Arriving firefighters found heavy smoke and determined the fire was confined to the kitchen area. The victim was found during a search of the home. Fire officials say the victim was alone in the home.

An investigation determined that the fire was likely caused by cooking materials overheating.

More details have been released on an accident that occurred in Cass County on Friday morning. Two people were injured in the crash that occurred at 10:51 a.m. on Interstate 80 at mile-marker 64 eastbound.

The Iowa State Patrol reports that a 2002 Chrysler Town & Country van driven by 52-year-old Barbara Brinson of Cedar Rapids was eastbound on I-80 in the right lane. A 2020 Freightliner TT driven by 33-year-old Harl Heydenreich of Glendale, AZ merged onto I-80 from Exit 64 eastbound. Brinson’s vehicle approached Heydenreich from behind and merged over to the left lane to pass but for unknown reasons lost control and hit the semi. The van entered the east ditch and came to rest. The Freightliner was able to pull off onto the shoulder.

Brinson and a passenger 60-year-old Forzay Wilson of Cedar Rapids suffered unknown injuries in the accident. Wilson was taken to UNMC in Omaha by Lifenet helicopter. Brinson was taken to Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic by Anita Rescue.

The Iowa State Patrol was assisted at the scene by Anita Rescue, Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Enforcement, Medivac, and Cass County Fire and Rescue.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Griswold man early this morning following a traffic incident. At approximately 1:30 a.m. Deputies arrested 20-year-old Brandon Misner of Griswold for OWI 1st Offense. Misner’s vehicle was found stuck in a corn field north of the roadway in the 3200 block of 110th Street. Misner was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and booked in on $1,000.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa jail administrator is on temporary leave after making anti-Muslim and anti-gay remarks. Muscatine County Sheriff C.J. Ryan confirmed Friday that administrator Dean Naylor was placed on leave pending an internal investigation. The Des Moines Register reports Naylor posted online remarks that called Muslims “pawns to the devil” and described “the gay lifestyle” as an abomination.

Officials in Johnson County, which houses overflow inmates in Muscatine County, called for Naylor’s removal. A union representing employees at the Muscatine County jail and national advocacy group for Muslims also sought Naylor’s removal.

(Radio Iowa) — Some people are misinterpreting comments made by President Trump during a White House news conference on Thursday as a potential cure or prevention for COVID-19, but that’s not the case. Tammy Noble, a registered nurse and spokeswoman for the Iowa Poison Control Center, says under no circumstances should anyone inject bleach or a disinfectant.

“That could actually be very harmful by injecting that into your bloodstream,” Noble says. “We don’t even recommend using disinfectants or bleach products on human skin because they can be very dangerous, cause burns to the skin and lots of irritation.” Noble says the Sioux City-based hotline has taken -no- calls about this topic, but since the pandemic began, there has been an increase in calls about a variety of problems related to hand sanitizers, bleach and disinfectants.

Noble says, “Callers are usually reporting exposures because they accidentally swallow it or sometimes the adults, while they’re cleaning, are inhaling the fumes from it, or they’re ending up with eye or skin exposures.” If you’ll be using any of those types of chemicals, Noble says to read and follow the directions carefully and keep the area well ventilated by opening doors and windows.

“If you do breathe in too much of the fumes, oftentimes people will feel irritation in their nose, their throat, their lungs,” Noble says. “Sometimes, people can have difficulty breathing or tightness in their chest.” Never mix bleach with ammonia or other chemicals or products, including vinegar, as it can create a toxic gas. Noble also reminds Iowans to store chemicals up and away, out of reach of children. The Iowa Poison Control Center is open around the clock, every day at 1-800-222-1222.

The Iowa DNR is extending closures of campgrounds and other park facilities through May 14, 2020 to help protect the health of visitors and staff during the COVID-19 health emergency. State parks and forests remain open for day-use opportunities, but visitors are reminded to strictly abide the social distancing rules and not gather in groups.

Facilities that will remain closed through May 14 include:

• Campgrounds, including youth and group camps
• Bathrooms, including pit latrines and port-a-potties
• Playgrounds
• Cabins, shelters and lodges
• Visitor centers and museums

All programs and events at state parks are cancelled or postponed through at least May 14, 2020. Watch for updates at iowadnr.gov

Please be aware that as conditions change, so may policies on park visitation and overnight stays.

The DNR will work with guests to cancel reservations affected by this extension. If you have reservations for the month of May after the closure dates and feel cancelling your stay is the safest choice, we will waive the cancellation fee for visits (cabins, campsites, lodges, shelters) with arrival dates through May 31, 2020. A transaction fee of $4.00 ($6.00 for reservations originally made by phone) will still apply. To cancel your May reservation, call (877) 427-2757.

Remember to stay home if you feel sick, wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your face, and bring supplies from home including disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer and other hygiene products.