Authorities Deal With Liquid Fertilizer Spill
(Remsen) — A liquid fertilizer spill caused local authorities to temporarily close Highway 140 between Remsen and Kingsley this morning. The fertilizer spill happened shortly after 10:00 a.m. near the intersection of Highway 140 and 240th Street. The Remsen Fire Department along with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene. No other information is available at this time.
Reynolds Announces Partnership For Additional COVID-19 Tests Kits
(Des Moines) — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced a partnership with a private company to allow for additional testing and assessment for the COVID-19 coronavirus. During Tuesday’s briefing, Reynolds says the program called “TestIowa.com” Reynolds says Iowa is only the second state in the nation to make such an agreement contract.
Reynolds describes the three steps.
Iowa Department Of Public Health Working With Businesses To Detect Outbreaks Of COVID-19 Coronavirus
(Des Moines) — With more large employers, such as meat processing plants, having multiple employees contracting COVID-19, and having to shut down at least temporary, people are wondering about how safe it is to work at a facility with hundreds if not thousands of employees standing next to each other. During the Monday daily briefing, Sarah Reisetter (Rees-stir) with the Iowa Department of Public Health explained what the agency is doing to help large businesses cope with the outbreak and spread of coronavirus.
The Iowa Public Health Department official says the agency is asking businesses to report to the Public Health Department when at least ten percent of the employees are absent or show symptoms of having COVID-19.
Reisetter explained what then happens if a business reports having at least ten percent absenteeism.
Reisetter says when health officials believe it is in the best interest of the public, along with public safety, they will release the name of the business with the outbreak.
Iowa Economic Development Authority Proposes Main Street Business Loans
(Des Moines, IA) — The director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority is proposing a revolving loan fund for Main Street businesses in the state.
Debi Durham isn’t ready to say how large she’d like the fund to be, but she’s asked the state’s bankers if they’ll manage the loans for businesses in Iowa’s rural communities. Durham said, “it’s ready, so it’s just a matter of when the legislature convenes, presenting something to them.” Durham’s agency distributed 24-million dollars in state grants to hundreds of small businesses earlier this month – but nearly 14-thousand businesses applied.
Durham also plans to ask lawmakers to financially support other programs aimed at Iowa’s small business sector. The legislative session is currently suspended during the COVID-19 outbreak but lawmakers must pass a state budget before July.
Tyson Foods Resumes Limited Operations at Columbus Junction Pork Plant
(Columbus Junction, IA) — Tyson Foods is resuming what it calls “limited operations” today (Tuesday) at its Columbus Junction pork processing plant.
Operations were idled for two weeks following a coronavirus outbreak. Around 200 positive COVID-19 cases have been linked to the pork plant and two deaths. Tyson president Dean Banks said, “we plan to increase production at Columbus Junction gradually, with the safety of our team members top of
mind.” Governor Kim Reynolds said that all of the Tyson employees have been tested and she will not order any of the state’s meat packing plants to close because they’re essential to the food supply. The Prestage Foods of Iowa packing plant in Eagle Grove had 16 employees test positive for COVID-19.
Redwoods Farms Meat Processors Closes Plant Due to Employee Coronavirus
(Estherville, IA) — A meat processing plant in northwest Iowa is the latest to close after an employee tested positive for coronavirus. Redwood Farms Meat Processors in Estherville says one of its employees reported having COVID-19 and it is only aware of that case. The company says the worker does not live in Emmet County. Redwood Farms says it is suspending
operations temporarily to ensure the safety of its employees and the community. The company says it is committed to additional cleaning practices and screening of employees upon arrival at the facility.
Construction Shut Down 2 Weeks at Lakes Regional Healthcare Due to COVID Cases
(Spirit Lake, IA) — A construction project at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake is shut down for two weeks due to contractors testing positive for COVID-19. President/ C-E-O Jason Harrington says two contractors tested positive last week and a third was confirmed Sunday. Harrington says they
made the decision to halt construction for 14 days. The construction site will be disinfected and hospital staff who had access to the area will be tested. Harrington says they’re confident the mask policy limited any further exposure to the virus.
