(Radio Iowa) — State officials will release a report next Friday, but Iowa Workforce Development director Beth Townsend offers a glimpse of the huge increase in jobless claims as businesses shut down during the COVID-19 outbreak. “We are seeing an unprecedented number of claims…It’s pretty staggering,” Townsend says. “Essentially what we’re receiving on a daily basis is what we’d see in a month.”

The Iowa Restaurant Association warns the jobs for as many as 80-thousand Iowans in that industry are in jeopardy due to the unprecedented closure of bars and restaurants. Townsend says her agency’s goal is to get an unemployment check to most every eligible Iowan no more than 10 days after they file their claim.

“We are working very hard to lessen the financial impact of the temporary loss of income due to COVID-19-related layoffs,” Townsend says. The requirement that Iowans receiving unemployment benefits actively search for other jobs has been temporarily waived during this emergency period as well.

“If you are laid off due to COVID-19, if you need to stay home to self-isolate or to care for family members or children due to illness related to COVID-19 or because of school and daycare closures, you can receive unemployment benefits provided you meet the other eligibility requirements,” Townsend says.

Governor Kim Reynolds says later today (Friday) her staff will release details about alternative child care facilities for the children of health care workers and first responders. A middle aged patient from Allamakee County is the latest positive case of COVID-19 in Iowa. About a third of the cases in Iowa so far have been in the 41 to 60 age range and nearly half are over the age of 60.

Governor Reynolds issued an Emergency Declaration related to the COVID-19 Virus. The Union County Sheriff’s Office says “During this Proclamation (for State purposes only) it is legal to carry past the date of expiration. However, if purchasing a firearm and the permit is over 5 years from Date of Issue (when the NICS – National Instant Criminal Background Check System – check was ran), a new NICS check will need to be ran by the FFL at point of sale because federal law requires a NICS check within the past 5 years.

The Governor also removed the requirement for Counties to accept applications by personal delivery. Union County is still accepting personal delivery of applications, however, during the Proclamation, and will also be accepting applications by mail.

When mailing either the Application for Iowa Permit to Carry Weapons (New $50 or Renew $25) or the Application for Permit to Acquire a Pistol or Revolver ($25) (both can be found on the State’s website), please include a check or money order made out to the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

New Permit to Carry applicants need to include a copy of their training certificate or DD214. Mail to: Union County Sheriff’s Office, 302 N Pine St, Creston, IA 50801.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is providing this important information about COVID-19 as it relates to public drinking water to provide clarity to the public. The COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking water supplies. Based on current evidence, the risk to water supplies is very low.

Disinfection methods used in drinking water treatment plants are effective for inactivation of coronaviruses and all other viruses. Iowans can continue to use and drink water from their tap as usual.  The Iowa DNR recommends obtaining your potable water from your tap as much as possible to conserve bottled water for emergency situations if needed.

Stay up to date on the latest news regarding coronavirus with the World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH).

Atlantic, IA — Cass County Health System is rapidly adapting to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials say every effort is being made to protect the health CCHS patients and staff, while also best utilizing the available resources to prepare for a surge of patients.

COVID-19 TESTING:
Patients who are coming to CCHS for new respiratory illness and potential COVID-19 testing are being cared for in an isolated area of Atlantic Medical Center.

WEEKEND CARE:
· Patients needing care related to COVID-19: Care is available from 10 am – 6 pm Saturday and Sunday. Call 712-243-2850 and press 1 before coming to CCHS.
· For all other patients: Walk-in care at AMC from 8 am to noon on Saturday for acute illnesses only.
· Emergency Department: Open 24/7.
· AMC Rapid Care has been suspended until further notice.

TEMPORARY HOURS:
AMC hours are now 7 am – 7 pm Monday through Thursday, 8 am to 5 pm Friday. Saturdays (acute care) from 8 am to noon. Walk-in care is available Monday-Saturday. This is a temporary change until further notice.

EYE ASSOCIATES:
Eye Associates will see emergent patients by appointment only; otherwise the office is closed. Phone calls will be answered during regular business hours.

VISITING HOURS:
Our inpatient visiting hours are now 7 am to 9 pm.

POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE:
· Senior Life Solutions
· Cardiac Rehab
· Routine colonoscopies
· Cataract surgeries

Please stay up to date with KJAN or check casshealth.org/covid-19 for CCHS related news.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is seeing a “staggering” number of claims for unemployment benefits as the coronavirus pummels the state and national economy. Officials say the daily number of unemployment claims being filed is similar to what the state would usually receive in a busy month.

The job losses are piling up as Iowa has taken moves to limit the spread of the virus by ordering the closure of restaurants, bars and other gathering spots and encouraged people to stay at home.

Because of that, Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday signed a state emergency declaration designed to offer an array of relief to Iowa residents.

A Special, electronically transmitted meeting of the Audubon School Board will take place 7-p.m. Monday. The Board will take action on a Resolution for a Pandemic Response and Emergency Suspension of Policy, and receive an update on District efforts to that effect, so far.

And, while members of the public may be allowed to attend the meeting in-person, it will be limited to 10 participants, with preference going to Board members and other people necessary to conducting the meeting.

Members of the public are strongly encouraged to attend via Zoom using the link https://zoom.us/j/955752749 .

As we’ve mentioned previously, businesses and organizations are urged to donate personal protective equipment, or PPE, by contacting their local public health department and the county emergency management agency.

To donate PPE:

For Guthrie County –Drop off will be at the GC Public Health Office but you will need to call ahead as the doors are locked. Their phone number is (641) 747-3972.

For Adair County –Drop off at Greenfield Lumber at 107 NE 6thStreet | Greenfield during regular business hours.For more information please visit: www.adairguthriecountycovid.org

Officials with SWIPCO & SWITA (Southwest Iowa Planning Council & Southwest Iowa Transit Agency) – based in Atlantic, has updated their policies, with regard to the current COVID-19 Health Emergency:

The SWIPCO/SWITA office are open, but outside visitors are limited and many staff are working remotely. Please call ahead and be prepared to conduct as much business as possible either over the phone or via email. SWIPCO/SWITA staff are not traveling to meetings except as requested by public health or emergency management.

SWITA SERVICES:

• We are continuing to provide trips, including medical trips, throughout the region if scheduled through our office 24 hours in advance and subject to driver availability. These can be scheduled by calling our office at 712-243-2518 or 800-842-8065. Medical trips scheduled via Medicaid/MCOs are also continuing to run.
• We have suspended SWITA taxi service, which normally operates in Missouri Valley, Harlan, Atlantic, Red Oak, Shenandoah, and Glenwood, because of the close proximity between riders and our drivers. However, we have instituted a temporary service that if scheduled 24 hours in advance and subject to driver availability, we will provide medical trips in those communities at the taxi rate and will honor taxi tickets as payment. Faith in Action and Clarinda Area Volunteers continue to run.
• We continue to operate the Council Bluffs STS paratransit service. It is anticipated to run as long as the Metro fixed route service is operating.
• Our workforce commuter transportation routes to Oakland Foods, Menards, 3HO, and Monogram Foods continue until further notice.
• We continue to provide transportation for the Glenwood Resource Center.

SWIPCO/SWIHTF SERVICES:

• We continue to move housing projects forward if both the contractor and homeowner agree. Our homeownership program continues as normal.
• Mills County and Fremont County flood buyout projects continue.
• Mills County flood disaster mortgage relief payments continue and new applications will be accepted.
• Code enforcement inspections continue, but our inspectors are instructed that if any party self describes as sick or declines to participate, those individual inspections will be deferred until a later date with no penalty.
• New building code inspections continue.
• Business RLF payments may be deferred up to 90 days if requested. You do not need to contact the office at this time, letters will be going out to all loan recipients shortly.

(Radio Iowa) It’s been a year since everyone in the small, northwest Iowa town of Hornick had to evacuate because of flooding. Hornick Mayor Scott Mitchell says there’s been progress, but they still have a long way to go.

Hornick is about 25 miles southeast of Sioux City and had about 220 residents when last year’s flooding hit. Hornick was awarded more than two-million dollars last year to build a protective barrier called a berm around the city, to prevent future flooding. Mitchell says the town is still waiting to start the project.

And the community is waiting for funding from FEMA for the road repairs.

(Reporting by Katie Peikes)

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been notified of one additional positive case of Iowans with COVID-19, for a total of 45 positive cases. 765 negative tests have been conducted at the State Hygienic Lab. According to IDPH, this individual resides in Allamakee County and is a middle-aged adult (41-60).

A status report of monitoring and testing of COVID19 in Iowa provided by IDPH can be found here. In addition, a public hotline has been established for Iowans with questions about COVID-19. The line is available 24/7 by calling 2-1-1 or 1-800-244-7431. The governor’s office and the Iowa Department of Public Health will be transitioning to mid morning updates as testing capabilities have expanded.

Gov. Reynolds will hold a press conference today from the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Johnston, IA at 2:30 p.m. to provide an update to the state of Iowa on COVID-19. Gov. Reynolds held a press conference later this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. The press conference will be livestreamed and posted in full on Governor Reynolds’ Facebook Page.