The Iowa Department of Public Health reports eight deaths and 83 additional positive COVID-19 cases Sunday. That brings the statewide total to 868 positive cases and 22 deaths. There have been an additional 519 negative tests for a total of 9,973 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs.

The IDPH reports more than 10% of all positive cases in Iowa are occurring among long term care staff and residents. More than 40% of all deaths in Iowa are associated with outbreaks in long-term care facilities. This statistic underscores that COVID-19 poses the most risk for older adults above the age of 60 with chronic health conditions, resulting in more severe illness and death.

NOTES: A case that was previously reported as a positive case in Pottawattamie County, upon further investigation, is a negative case and is removed from the case count.

On Sunday, April 5, Pottawattamie County Public Health indicated another presumptive positive COVID-19 case in Pottawattamie County. The total COVID-19 for Pottawattamie County is now eight, two of which have recovered. This case is a female between 18-40 years old and a resident of Council Bluffs. The individual has no pre-existing medical conditions, no recent travel, and no identifiable contact with an existing case. Pottawattamie County Public Health believes this case to be a result of community spread. The individual
is currently self-isolating at home and does not pose a risk to the public.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Page county Public Health have identified an additional case of COVID-19 in the County, bringing the total number of Page County positive cases to three. This individual is a middle aged adult (41 – 60 years) and has transmitted the virus via community spread. This person is recovering at home in isolation.

Officials in Crawford County were notified today (Sunday), of three additional, positive cases of COVID-19 not included in the IDPH Press Release. The individuals are between the ages of 61-and 80. Community Spread of the virus is occurring in Crawford County.

The Iowa Department of Public Health and public health officials continue to work closely with Iowa’s long-term care associations and facilities, providing guidance for sick residents, transferring residents in need of care to hospitals, constantly monitoring the health of other residents and staff, and implementing additional infection prevention measures.

According to IDPH, an additional 8 deaths were also reported:

• Appanoose County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Johnson County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Polk County, 2 older adults (61-80 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Linn County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Scott County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Washington County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)

According to IDPH, the locations and age ranges of the 83 individuals include:

• Allamakee County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Benton County, 2 middle-age (41-60 years)
• Black Hawk, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 middle-age (41-60 years)
• Boone County, 1 middle-age (41-60)
• Buchanan County, 2 adults (18-40 years)
• Cedar County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Clarke County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
• Clayton County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Clinton County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
• Dallas County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
• Hamilton County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Henry County, 2 elderly adults (81+)
• Johnson County, 7 adults (18-40 years), 3 middle-age adults (41-60 years)
• Jones County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
• Linn County***, 3 adults (18-40 years), 8 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 4 older adults (61-80 years), 7 elderly adults (81+),
• Louisa County, 1 elderly adult (81+), 4 middle-age adults (41-60 years)
• Muscatine County, 2 adults (18-40 years), 3 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Plymouth County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
• Polk County, 3 adults (18-40 years), 8 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years)
• Scott County, 3 adults (18-40 years)
• Shelby County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
• Tama County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Warren County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
• Washington County, 2 middle-age adults (41-60 years)

***70 of Linn County’s 161 positive cases (43%) can be attributed to an outbreak at a long-term care facility.

Gov. Reynolds will hold a press conference tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. Listen for it live, on KJAN.

(UPDATE) DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and killed in Des Moines on Sunday morning. Des Moines Police say the crash happened a little before 8:15-a.m. in the 1700 block of Beaver Avenue. Officers found the 38-year old victim deceased at the scene. The woman’s name has not yet been released. Her dog also died in the crash. The driver of the vehicle that hit the pedestrian abandoned his vehicle and fled the area, but police found him nearby and arrested him without incident. He was identified as 49-year-old Jason Robert Sassman, of Des Moines. Sassman faces charges of first-degree murder and animal neglect.

Authorities said Sassman was driving a pick-up truck northbound on Beaver Avenue at a high rate of speed, when the vehicle left the roadway, struck and severed a utility pole and continued driving through residential yards and onto the side walk, where it struck and killed the female pedestrian and her dog.  The incident remains under investigation.

A motorcyclist being pursued by law enforcement died Saturday night, when the 2004 Honda he was riding collided with the rear of a 2012 Chevy K1500 pickup in Polk County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 21-year old Aaron Bjork, of Des Moines, died at the scene of the crash between Altoona and Mitchellville. He was not wearing a helmet. The accident happened on westbound Interstate 80 near mile marker 146, at around 8:23-p.m., Saturday.

When the cycle struck the rear of the pickup, the pickup rear ended a 2011 Jeep Wrangler. Neither driver, both of whom were from Colfax, was injured. The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by Mitchellville EMS and Altoona Fire and Rescue.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:00 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa health officials say another three people in the state have died from COVID-19, and 87 new cases of the disease have been confirmed across the state. The Iowa Department of Public Health reported the new numbers Saturday, bringing the statewide total of novel coronavirus cases to 786. The department says that among the new deaths was a person between the ages of 61 and 80 from Linn County, which has been hard-hit by the outbreak. The other deaths were a person between 61 and 80 from Polk County and a person between the ages of 41 and 60 in Henry County. Fourteen people in Iowa have died since the outbreak began.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court has issued an order suspending grand jury hearings and criminal jury trials until mid-July in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Chief Justice Susan Christensen issued the order Thursday that says trials and hearings already in progress will continue. But those that have not begun and are scheduled to begin over the coming weeks have been postponed. Non-jury criminal trials, in which a judge issues a verdict, are scheduled to resume June 1 under the order. Grand juries and jury trials scheduled through June are now pushed back until at least July 13.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a 33-year-old woman is Des Moines’ latest homicide victim. Police say officers were called Friday afternoon to an area just blocks southwest of the Drake University campus for reports of a shooting. Arriving officers found the woman unresponsive, suffering from a gunshot wound. The woman, later identified as 33-year-old Catherine Bobbitt, of Des Moines, was taken to an area hospital, where she died. Police say witnesses had been interviewed and investigators were following up on leads, but no arrests had been reported by Saturday morning. Police say Bobbitt’s death is the city’s eighth for 2020.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Animal shelters across the U.S. say they’ve placed record numbers of dogs, cats and other animals as people suddenly find themselves stuck at home amid the coronavirus pandemic. If past trends hold, many of those who agree to temporarily care for a pet will ultimately decide they want to keep the animal. Amid an avalanche of bad news, stories of people fostering pets are prompting smiles. A shelter in Denver now says it has a waiting list of 2,000 people wanting to foster. When the Animal Rescue League of Iowa put out a call for temporary homes for 80 cats, it got 160 applications within 12 hours.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County report that at around 12:38-p.m., Saturday, Deputies assisted the Department of Human Services in the 2000 block of Quincy Street, in Corning. Upon further investigation, Venessa Elizabeth Jennings, of Omaha, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense, Child Endangerment, and Gathering where controlled substance are unlawfully used.

A search was was subsequently conducted at the residence. The case remains under investigation, with additional criminal charges expected.