Coronavirus Update – April 15, 2020

Well, good morning. We'll go ahead and start this morning with an update on the numbers. Today we had 96 new positive cases for a total of 1,995 positive cases. No new counties, so we have 82 total counties. 407 negative cases today for a total of 17,874 negative tests. The State Hygienic Lab has 3,048 tests available. We have 908 Iowans that have recovered for a recovery rate of 46%. And I am sorry to report this morning that we have had four additional deaths, one elderly adult in Polk County, one elderly adult in Clayton County, one older adult in Allamakee County, and one older adult in Johnson County for a total of 53 deaths in Iowa. The Department of Public Health has also confirmed one additional long-term care outbreak at Wilton Retirement Community and Muscatine in this county and this brings our total number of long-term care facility outbreaks to seven. More than 10% of Iowa's total number of positive COVID-19 cases and 49% of our deaths are related to long-term care outbreaks. All deaths in Iowa are among older or elderly individuals and those with underlying health conditions. Again, underscoring the importance of doing our part to protect our most vulnerable population. Today the Department of Public Health is sending testing supplies to Wilton Retirement Center so that additional residents can be tested. We are also sending an additional 900 tests to the Tyson plant in Louisa County - and this will be in addition to the 200 tests that were sent last week.

I also want to provide a look at the RMCC data from a statewide perspective this morning. As we announced yesterday, the information is now available on a new online dashboard at coronavirus.iowa.gov. Across all of our RMCC regions yesterday there were 171 COVID-19 patients hospitalized; 20 were admitted in the last 24 hours; 78 patients are being treated in ICUs; and 43 are on ventilators. Also, in hospitals across the state there are 7,930 inpatient beds, 533 ICU beds and 718 ventilators that are available for patient care. You can easily access the same information by region on the dashboard at coronavirus.iowa.gov.

Last week we discussed the emerging issue of newly food-insecure Iowans and unintended consequences of the necessary mitigation efforts that we’ve implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our state. And today I want to shine a light on another important issue – and that is abuse and neglect. At a time when it's critical that Iowans stay home as much as possible to prevent being exposed to the virus and and/or exposing others, we must also recognize that home is not a safe place for all Iowans. Data from past disasters show physical and sexual abuse as well as domestic violence and substance abuse increases along with the stress on families in these types of circumstances. Anecdotal information nationwide suggests that it is happening now due to COVID-19 pandemic. So, for anyone living in an abusive situation, including children staying home, means that their abuse or neglect may be going unnoticed by those who might otherwise be able to help them with schools out children are separated from the teachers and caregivers who might see the signs and report them. And today I've asked Director Kelly Garcia who is the director of the Department of Human Services to join me and help raise awareness of child welfare during this time and the role that we can all play to ensure that Iowa's children are safe and well.

[Director Kelly Garcia speaks]

Thank you, Kelly. And I want to thank the entire team at the Department of Human Services who are working to ensure that important services continue for Iowa families during this really challenging time. I also want to recognize the Department of Education, as Director Garcia indicated, and school districts across the state who stood up their summer meal programs early to ensure that school-age children continue to benefit from healthy meals each day. On that note, I do want to share some good news.

Last week when I told you about the challenge that food banks across the state are having to meet the growing demand, Iowans really stepped up. The Food Bank of Iowa reported that during and after the press conference their phones were lighting up with Iowans calling to ask what they could do from donating food to volunteering on-site. Corporate partners also stepped up: we had Walmart delivered a truckload of cleaning supplies; Casey's donated 30,000 pounds of packaged lunch meat: and Ruan is helping facilitate transportation needs so that the food bank can double its distribution routes. This is a time when all of us must do our part to protect our fellow Iowans; whether it's staying home or social distancing to slow the spread of the virus or recognizing when someone is in need and answering the call to help. Iowans are known and respected for doing the right thing so thank you for being a force of good during these really difficult times. And with that we will open it up for questions.

Reynolds, K.K. [Iowa PBS]. (2020, April 15). Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds Press Conference | April 15, 2020, 11 a.m. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVEQMkp1jVw] Retrieved on February 14, 2022 from https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHHphhxRHZpMS96kUr4DuwA.