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IA Gov. Reynolds says the State is near its goal of 5k test; additional openings set for June 1st

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May 26th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Governor Kim Reynolds, today (Tuesday), said the State is closer to its goal of processing 5,000 tests per day through the State Hygienic and other labs. She says last week, more than 28,000 Iowans were tested for COVID-19. 6,146 tests were conducted at TestIowa locations, after it was announced any Iowan was free to be tested – with an appointment. On Friday, 2,114 people were tested, the highest amount to date. Reynolds said “On Sunday, 4,907 tests were processed at the State Hygienic lab, only 93 away from meeting our full capacity of 5,000 tests per day.

The Governor said “As testing continues to increase, the number of Iowans testing positive continues to trend down.”

The average positivity rate over time has dropped to 13.1%. Gov. Reynolds said also, the existing disaster proclamation will be extended through June 25th and some changes to public health measures will begin June 1st, that eases restrictions on some restaurants and bars. (See the full proclamation here: https://governor.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Public%20Health%20Proclamation%20-%202020.05.26%20%281%29.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery)

Additional businesses will be allowed to open June 1st, with health restrictions in-place.

(That includes speedways and racetracks, outdoor performance venues, casinos and gaming facilities, along with amusement parks, bowling alleys, pool halls and arcades, all at 50% of normal operating capacity.)

Social, community, recreational, leisure and sports gatherings of more than 10 people will be permitted again on June 1st, but groups and individuals must still practice six-feet social distancing. The proclamation also permits practices, games and competitions for youth and adult baseball/softball, and individual sports, to resume with appropriate social distancing, hygiene and public health measures in place. The continued reopening comes as COVID-19 deaths in Iowa have increased to 471. Advocates for low-income tenants have warned that scores of tenants who have lost income due to the coronavirus pandemic could face eviction in coming months.