Home News Saturday News, April 4th

Saturday News, April 4th

Plymouth County Reports Two Additional Cases Of COVID-19

(Le Mars) — Plymouth County has identified two additional cases of testing positive of having the COVID-19 coronavirus. This brings the total so far, to three cases in Plymouth County. The two new cases are both females between the ages of 18-40. Both are self-isolating at home.
Plymouth County Community Health Manager, Tara Geddes reminds people that if they feel ill in any way, to stay at home.

Geddes says before returning back to work, coronavirus patients will need to be free from fever for at least a few days.

The Community Health Manager says to practice good preventive measures which include: washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds each time, and covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow/upper arm,
and not touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

 

 

Iowa Coronavirus Cases Now Number Nearly 700

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The number of Iowa residents who have tested positive for the new coronavirus soared by 85, bringing the total number of cases in the state to nearly 700. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds updates the latest numbers.

The Department of Public Health announced Friday that the latest cases were scattered through 31 counties, from Lyon County in the state’s northwest corner to Van Buren County in southeast Iowa. Polk County had 13 cases and Linn County had 14. The statewide total rose to 699 cases. No additional deaths were reported in Iowa.

 

 

Reynolds Under Pressure To Implement “Shelter-in-Place” Order

(Des Moines) — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is receiving pressure from various fronts to implement a “Shelter-in-place” order. Iowa is one of only five states not to have the “Shelter-in-place” provision. The Iowa Board of Medicine is the latest to call upon the governor to issue the order. During her daily news conference briefing held Friday, Governor Reynolds defended
her position to not have a “Shelter-in-Place” ruling. Reynolds says the issue is dividing the state at a time when we must remain united.

Reynolds says its more important to take the appropriate action, rather than be concerned about the name.

Reynolds was asked about the negative aspects, or the down side, of issuing a “Shelter-in-Place” order?

The governor has been holding daily news media briefings since nearly the start of when the pandemic first hit Iowa.

 

 

Iowa Medical Board Calls For Reynolds To Issue “Shelter-in-Place” Order

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Board of Medicine is asking Gov. Kim Reynolds to issue a shelter-in-place order to further slow the spread of the coronavirus. The board, comprised mainly of doctors, voted to send a letter to Reynolds urging her to move beyond the current restrictions she has issued and impose a public shelter order. The board executive director says the doctors believe an order from the governor would further discourage individuals from meeting in groups and going out into public. Reynolds says she wants to hear what they have to say.

 

 

Easter Bunny To Visit Neighborhoods

(Le Mars) — Since the annual Easter egg hunt has been cancelled due to the spread of the coronavirus, many people are turning to alternative methods.
Some downtown businesses have posted an Easter egg drawing in their shop windows as a way for children to find all the eggs as part of a virtual egg hunt. This weekend, the Easter bunny will be traveling throughout different neighborhoods of Le Mars and surrounding communities to wave and greet the many children. Jammin Entertainment and Lasting Expressions have teamed up
for a little Easter Fun. The Easter Bunny will be traveling through the streets of Le Mars and Remsen On Saturday April 4th. The Easter Bunny be waving to all the kids from the back of the truck to ensure a safe distance.

They will be traveling through Le Mars from 10 am to 2 pm. The town will be divided into 4 sections, starting in the Southwest part of town at 10:00 a.m.
The Easter bunny will spend 1 hour in each part of town. Have your kids at the window or front doors to wave at the bunny.

Times are as follows:

Southwest 10:00 am

Southeast 11:00 am

Northeast 12:00 pm

Northwest 1:00 pm

During the afternoon, the team will be in Remsen and will start on the West side of town and finish up at 6 pm

On Sunday, the Team will be in Merrill at 1:00 pm to 2:30 Pm. They will start on the North end of town and end on the south side of town.

At 3:00 pm the Easter bunny will head to Hinton. Starting at the North side of town.

 

 

Reynolds Picks McDermott As Supreme Court Justice

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s Republican governor has appointed a West Des Moines lawyer with longtime ties to the state GOP as the newest Iowa Supreme Court justice. Gov. Kim Reynolds named Matthew McDermott on Friday to fill
the vacancy left when former Justice David Wiggins, a Democratic appointee, retired last month. McDermott served as lawyer for the state in a contentious lawsuit filed by a labor union challenging a 2017 Republican-backed law that
made sweeping changes to Iowa’s public employee collective bargaining statute. McDermott’s team won the lawsuit and a subsequent appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court, which ruled the law change was constitutional. McDermott was also a lawyer for the Republican Party of Iowa from 2007-2012.

 

 

Pork Producers Cancel World Pork Expo

(Des Moines) — For the second year in a row, the National Pork Producers Council has decided to cancel the World Pork Expo which was scheduled to be held in Des Moines at the Iowa State Fairgrounds June 3rd – June 5th. A year ago, the pork exhibition show was cancelled on the fear of the spread of the African Swine Fever that has devastated the Chinese pork industry. This
year, it is the concerns with the COVID-19 coronavirus. The World Pork Expo would feature an industry trade show, hog judging competition, as well as educational seminars.

 

 

University of Iowa Hospitals Say Most COVID-19 Patients Recover

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics says it has successfully treated dozens of COVID-19 patients through a program that allows them to stay in their homes while they recover. Doctors use virtual technology to check daily on patients who have been diagnosed with the disease, freeing up the hospital for the small percentage of people who need more intensive care. So far, 35 patients in the program have recovered while only three have needed to be admitted to the hospital. Theresa Brennan, the hospital’s chief medical officer, say Friday that another 38 are still being monitored.Brennan says she hopes other hospitals follow suit, potentially preventing them from being overwhelmed with patients.

 

 

Banks Say They Are Not Ready For Small Business Assistance Loans

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Two of the largest banks in Iowa say they aren’t ready to take applications for the $349 billion small business aid program that began Friday. MidwestOne Bank and Bankers Trust announced late Thursday that they still do not have enough information from the Small Business Administration to proceed. Both indicated they would begin processing applications as soon as they had the answers to key questions. A MidwestOne vice president told customers that banks “do not yet have critical program details” and warned that submitting inaccurate or incorrect applications would delay their aid. Des Moines-based Bankers Trust says it’s disappointed in the lack of guidance and delay.