(Radio Iowa) — Anyone who’s read an obituary lately (or listened to one on the radio), is noticing significant changes in how funerals are having to be conducted in Iowa during this coronavirus pandemic. Suzanne Gebel, executive director of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association, says they’re adapting to follow the governor’s mandate banning gatherings of ten or more people to help prevent the spread of the virus. Gebel says, “A lot of funerals are being done privately and then the celebration of life is being scheduled for later, once the restrictions are removed.”

In some circumstances, grieving families are asking for the rules to be bent to allow larger families to gather and mourn the loss of a loved one, but Gebel says it’s simply not permitted to defy the mandate. “There are also cases across the country where funeral homes who have defied it are being traced back to being the epicenter of a community’s outbreak,” Gebel says, “and that’s definitely not what any funeral director across this state would want.”

Technology is helping distant family members who can’t make the trip back to Iowa interact with loved ones at funerals. With coronavirus, Gebel says the use of the internet by Iowa funeral homes is being stepped up on a grand scale. “They’re using Facebook Live, they’re using Zoom, they’re doing YouTubes, they’re also doing just private FaceTime to family members,” Gebel says. “Funeral directors across the state are willing to work with families to provide whatever they can in this odd time.”

Some federal health officials estimate the number of dead from COVID-19 could reach 200-thousand nationwide. Gebel says Iowa funeral homes are prepared to handle a big influx in deaths and she says they’re working to cope with one particular challenge. “Funeral directors are required, and it’s obviously absolutely necessary, for them to use the personal protective equipment, the PPE that we hear is in such great shortage,” Gebel says. “We are working with folks in our state and nationwide to secure some PPE for our funeral directors.”

Founded in 1880, the Iowa Funeral Directors Association represents more than 700 Iowa-licensed funeral directors and 425 funeral homes.

On the web  at https://www.iafda.org/

Officials with Pottawattamie County Public Health reported Tuesday afternoon, a 17-year old female from Council Bluffs with no pre-existing medical conditions, has tested presumptive positive for COVID-19. The teen did have contact with a person who also tested positive for the virus. She was self-isolating at home. The girl works at a Westlake Ace Hardware (721 W. Broadway) in Council Bluffs, which is now temporarily closed. She was there last weekend on March 28th and 29th. At the time, the store had already installed sneeze guards at the check-out stations to mitigate COVID-19 exposure.

The county health department is in communication with the Iowa Department of Public Health and is conducting a contact tracing investigation for this case. Health officials are considering the case a “low-risk exposure” to the public. Official say if you visited the Westlake Ace Hardware store Saturday or Sunday, they want you to self-monitor and report any symptoms to the Pottawattamie County COVID-19 hotline. The hotline is available Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 712-890-5368 or 712-890-5369.

Earlier in the day, Tuesday, health officials said a woman between the ages of 41-and 60 had also tested presumptive positive for COVID-19, in a travel-related case. That person has also self-isolated at home, with Public Health staff checking-in with her twice daily.

An incident in Red Oak Tuesday night resulted in two women being cited and then released, for Breach of Peace. Red Oak Police report 39-year old Penny Marie Griggs and 42-year old Pegge Jo Williams, both of Red Oak, were cited at around 9:30-p.m. on the simple misdemeanor charges.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa bars and restaurants have been given permission to provide carry-out or delivery of cocktails and other alcoholic beverages as their seating areas have been closed to the public, but that was set to expire at midnight. Shortly after five o’clock Tuesday afternoon, Governor Kim Reynolds issued a new proclamation, so that service may continue until April 7th.

In March, Reynolds declared a public health emergency in the entire state of Iowa and ordered specific types of businesses to close, but she has resisted calls for issuing a statewide “stay at home” order.

“I can’t lock the state down. I can’t lock everybody in their home,” Reynolds says. “We have to make sure the supply chain is up and going. We have an essential workforce that has to be available…People also have to be responsible for themselves.”

Other parts of the order Reynolds issued late Tuesday give county hospitals more flexibility to borrow money and allow Iowa corporations to hold annual meetings electronically. In addition, the governor waived upcoming continuing education and certification deadlines for peace officers and jailers.

AUDUBON, Iowa (KJAN) — The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office, Tuesday night, said they “Received a report of a helicopter crash in eastern Audubon County from the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office at approximately 4:27 pm. (Tuesday). The accident remains under investigation and authorities said no further information is being released until the investigation is concluded. As KJAN previously reported, the accident happened near 250th and Robin Avenue. Witnesses said a helicopter collided with power lines before flipping over and crashing to the ground and bursting into flames. A pickup truck traveling nearby was reportedly hit by debris from the crash.

In a statement released just before 8-p.m. Tuesday, the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office said they “Received a report of a helicopter crash in eastern Audubon County from the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office at approximately 4:27 pm. (Tuesday).

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The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, Guthrie County EMA, Audubon County EMA, Audubon Fire & Rescue, Exira Fire Department, Audubon County Secondary Roads, Iowa State Patrol and the FAA.  The accident remains under investigation and no further releases will be made until the investigation is concluded.

As KJAN previously reported, the accident happened near 240th and Robin Avenue. Witnesses told KCCI TV a helicopter collided with power lines before flipping over and crashing to the ground and bursting into flames. A pickup truck traveling nearby was reportedly hit by debris from the crash.

The area was blocked-off Tuesday evening, while law enforcement and emergency personnel from Audubon and Guthrie County were on the scene.

KJAN News has learned of a fiery helicopter crash in rural Audubon County. The incident took place at around 4-p.m., northeast of Exira, near 250th and Robin Avenue.

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Witnesses told KCCI TV a helicopter collided with power lines before flipping over and crashing to the ground and bursting into flames. A pickup truck traveling nearby was reportedly hit by debris from the crash.

A dispatcher at the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office would not comment on the matter when reached by KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

The area was blocked-off Tuesday evening, while law enforcement and emergency personnel from Audubon and Guthrie County were on the scene.  KJAN News will update this developing story when information becomes available.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration has relaxed regulations on the types of alcohol that can be used for hand sanitizer during a shortage caused by high demand from the coronavirus pandemic. The move late Friday expands the potential for alcohol made by ethanol producers to be used to help fill the need of hospitals and nursing homes. With the relaxation of regulations an industry trade group says as many as 20 plants have arranged to make alcohol and more are expected to join in soon.

Atlantic, IA — Cass County Health System is implementing some additional measures to mitigate any possible spread of COVID-19 within their facilities. Officials say effective Wednesday, April 1st, all patients and visitors will now be given a cloth face mask to wear while they are in the building.

Amanda Bireline, Chief Nursing Officer, said “Cloth masks are effective for blocking the sneezes and coughs of a potentially infected person. These masks help to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19.”

In order to be effective, masks must be worn over both the mouth and nose, and need to remain in place while coughing or sneezing. Bireline says “The masks are effective because they stop potentially infectious droplets from a cough or sneeze from landing on people or surfaces.”

Community members have donated over 340 masks to date. Bireline added, “We so appreciate our community members who have been sewing masks for us. We welcome as many as you can get to us!”

Officials with the City of Massena report “Out of an abundance of caution amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the playground equipment in the Massena City Park is CLOSED immediately until further notice. In addition, the park restrooms/water fountain will remain closed. Open spaces in the park will remain open.”

The City says “While this decision is very difficult, we want to protect Massena’s families and our youth from further spread of the coronavirus.”