DES MOINES, Neb. (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is defending her actions to open restaurants and other businesses in a majority of Iowa counties with few coronavirus cases.
Reynolds says University of Iowa professors who warned reopening business now could cause a second wave of infections were presenting a model that was a snapshot in time.
She says improved testing and mitigation efforts have successfully prevented hospitals from being overwhelmed. Health officials reported 467 new cases Wednesday for a total of more than 6,800 in Iowa.
An additional 12 people died, increasing the total to 148 deaths.
3 News Now This Morning Anchor Courtney Johns provided live updates via Twitter during Reynolds' news briefing on Wednesday.
#BREAKING #CORONAVIRUS According to the State of Iowa’s website the state had a record number of deaths in the last 24 hours. 12 people died from the virus. A total of 148 people have died from the virus in Iowa. We will livestream Gov. Reynolds press conference today at 11. pic.twitter.com/xjOoNoaAiE
— Courtney Johns (@CourtneyJohnsTV) April 29, 2020
#BREAKING #CORONAVIRUS Here is a look at the latest numbers out of Iowa in the last 24 hours there have been:
— Courtney Johns (@CourtneyJohnsTV) April 29, 2020
12 deaths
467 new confirmed cases
264 *more people recovering
323 hospitalized
#BREAKING #CORONAVIRUS
— Courtney Johns (@CourtneyJohnsTV) April 29, 2020
Here is a look at the latest totals according to the State of Iowa’s website:
148 deaths
6,843 cases
323 hospitalized
2,428 recovering
. @iagovernor says they are providing testing supplies to long-term care facilities across the state.
— Courtney Johns (@CourtneyJohnsTV) April 29, 2020
880 soldiers and airmen with the Iowa National Guard are helping the state respond to the coronavirus.
— Courtney Johns (@CourtneyJohnsTV) April 29, 2020
“We are Iowans helping Iowans. Neighbors helping neighbors.” #coronavirus
A reporter cited a University of IA report suggests using strong mitigation efforts for the next two weeks would prevent a second wave of coronavirus cases. The reporter asked Gov. Reynolds if it would make sense to wait two more weeks.
— Courtney Johns (@CourtneyJohnsTV) April 29, 2020
A reporter asked if IA Gov. Reynolds would attend church this week. She said she would continue to attend online because that is what her church is providing. #coronavirus
— Courtney Johns (@CourtneyJohnsTV) April 29, 2020
A reporter asked if IA Gov. Reynolds would attend church this week. She said she would continue to attend online because that is what her church is providing. #coronavirus
— Courtney Johns (@CourtneyJohnsTV) April 29, 2020
When asked about the University of IA report that suggests the state should stay closed another two weeks IA officials responded, “A model is a model, not a forecast.” #coronavirus
— Courtney Johns (@CourtneyJohnsTV) April 29, 2020
IA gov. Reynolds says she shouldn’t punish the entire state when just eight areas are experiencing a surge in cases. #coronavirus
— Courtney Johns (@CourtneyJohnsTV) April 29, 2020
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