(Radio Iowa) – The pandemic is -not- a valid excuse for skipping state-required vaccinations as children prepare to go back to school. The number of vaccinations for Iowa children fell sharply in March and April, compared to the same months in 2019. While parents may be wary about taking their kids in for check-ups due to COVID-19, Jessica Schultz, at the state health department, says it could put them at risk for preventable disease outbreaks.

Schultz says, “There is that increased risk when children don’t have protection, that they could be exposed to a vaccine-preventable disease and not have that full protection.” Schultz is encouraging health care providers to reach out to families who may have missed or canceled previous appointments, as some Iowa schools are already back in session and others will be starting soon.

She says, “There could be a risk for a vaccine-preventable outbreak at that school, especially as kids are going back into school and in closer quarters than previously through stay-at-home or just isolating away from other people as well.” Schultz says the department will -not- suspend immunization requirements for schools or licensed childcare centers.

(By Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) — The number of Iowans being treated in a hospital for COVID-19 has risen to 283. That’s a 19 percent increase compared to the number of patients hospitalized on August 1st.

The state’s coronavirus website shows at a peak in early June, 418 Iowans were being treated in a hospital for the virus. That gradually fell, to about a quarter as many patients by the end of June, but it has been rising since then. The number of Covid patients in intensive care units at Iowa hospitals has increased over the past 10 days as well.

State records currently show the deaths of 978 Iowans have been linked to the virus since the first cases were identified here in March.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s coronavirus website has made the pandemic look less severe than it is because of a software error that artificially lowers the number of new confirmed cases. Dana Jones, an Iowa City nurse practitioner, said Monday that the Iowa Department of Public Health has inadvertently been reporting fewer new infections and a smaller percentage of daily positive tests than is truly the case.

The department acknowledged the glitch in an email to Jones Friday and said the department is working on a fix. Iowa’s overall number of more than 52,600 who have tested positive since March is not affected.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer says last Thursday, August13th, the Page County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint of a reckless driver west of Highway 71, on 280th Street. Deputies  located and stopped the vehicle after a second call. It was observed turning onto P Avenue from 280th street. During the investigation, 49-year old Deborah Gail Taplin, of Bellevue, IA, was arrested for OWI 2nd Offense and Interference with Official Acts. Taplin was transported to the Page County Jail where she was held on $2,300 bond, pending further court proceeding

Last Wednesday, Page County Deputies arrested 50-year old John David Stone, of rural Braddyville. He was arrested in Clarinda for Driving while barred, and transported to the Page County Jail. Stone’s bond was set at $1,000, pending further court proceedings.

Audubon County Emergency Management Director Philip Mennenoh reports Audubon County has applied for and received a disaster declaration from the governor’s office which enables people of Audubon County whose property has sustained significant storm damage from the Aug. 10th derecho weather event, are now eligible for FEMA individual assistance.  The assistance comes only after meeting a list of qualifying conditions.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level or a maximum annual income of $43,440 for a family of three. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim.

Note:  FEMA assistance does not cover insurable claims.

Mennenoh says “The Audubon County Emergency Manager’s office is thankful that no one located in the county was injured in the derecho weather event.  If any resident who sustained damage to their car or home and meets the FEMA Individual Assistance Program requirements and need assistance please go to the Iowa Department of Human Services website. Please note the 45 day deadline.”

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police in Lincoln, Nebraska, say an Iowa man has been killed in a crash in Lincoln. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the crash happened Sunday morning at the Interstate 80 on-ramp from North 27th Street, killing 24-year-old Conner Altenhofen, of Chariton, Iowa. Police say the crash happened when Altenhofen lost control of the car he was driving. The car went into a ditch and rolled several times before coming to rest upside down.

Police say Altenhofen died at the scene. His passenger, a 34-year-old Lincoln woman, suffered minor injuries to her face. Police say the woman told investigators that she and Altenhofen had been drinking before the crash.

The Iowa State Patrol reports a fatality accident happened late Sunday night, between Dallas Center and Grimes, in Dallas County. The Patrol says a vehicle was southbound on W. Avenue at a high rate of speed when it crossed Highway 44 and went out of control before entering the west ditch and crashing into a tree and bursting into flames.

According to media reports, Iowa State Troopers along with Dallas and Polk County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call of a vehicle on fire at the same location at around 11:48 p.m. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The name of the driver has not yet been released.