In her report on Iowa’s COVID-19 status, Governor Kim Reynolds, today (Friday) said there were:

• 740 new, positive cases of the virus, for a total of 7,885.
• 85% of the new cases are from the 22 counties where restrictions remain in place. 516 are from Black Hawk, Dallas, Polk and Woodbury Counties.
• 2,186 new Negative test cases for COVID-19, for a total of 37,708
• 45, 593 total tests have been conducted for a per capita rate of 1-in every-69 Iowans.
• 2,899 Iowans have recovered, for a recovery rate of 37%.
• 345 are hospitalized.
• 8 additional deaths reported for the past 24-hours, for a total of 170.

The additional 8 deaths were reported in the following counties:

• Bremer County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Linn County, 2 middle-age adults (41-60 years)
• Muscatine County, 1 older adult (61-80 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Polk County, 2 elderly adults (81+)
• Scott County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)

Deaths continue to be among older adults and those with underlying health conditions.

Reynolds said if Iowans are still waiting for their TestIowa.com test results, they should be receiving them this weekend. The delay is attributed to a higher volume of tests received and the necessary validation process.

(She said the numbers of Iowans impacted by the Coronavirus are expected to be higher than usual when reported this weekend due to the high volume of tests being conducted among essential workers in communities and facilities where virus activity is high.)

With 77 counties seeing a reduction in social gathering and business operating restrictions as of today (Friday), religious services are now also permitted statewide, but with restrictions. Iowa Department of Public Health deputy director Sarah Reisetter says they’re getting questions about what constitutes a worship service: