Mills County Public Health officials today (Monday), reported two new, positive cases of COVID-19. The total number of positive cases in Mills County now stands at 31, with 23 of those affected persons, having recovered from the virus. A total of 1,761 residents of the county have been tested for COVID-19.

The latest cases are adults. One is age 41-to 60. The other is 19-to 40-years of age. One case was the result of community spread. The other through close contact. Mills County Public Health reminds residents “It is now more important than ever to practice social distancing, frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to cover coughs and sneezes with either a tissue, your elbow and/or upper arm. Also, please stay home if you are ill.

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(Radio Iowa) — Republican Senator Joni Ernst posted a short video online this (Monday) morning, challenging Democratic opponent Theresa Greenfield to half a dozen debates before the November election.  “You know, I haven’t heard Theresa Greenfield say one thing that Chuck Schumer hasn’t told her to say and that’s not what Iowans expect in a leader, so I’m challenging Miss Greenfield to six debates, two each month, starting in August,” Ernst said. “Let’s let Iowans hear what we have to say.”

Schumer is the Democratic leader in the U.S. Senate. A spokesman for Greenfield’s campaign says after a new poll shows Ernst trailing Greenfield, Ernst is following Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell’s desperate playbook for failing senators around the country. One of Ernst’s top advisors amplified the senator’s message on Twitter when the man who founded Iowa Starting Line commented on Ernst’s video, suggesting that once again, a man was stepping in trying to speak for Greenfield.

Sam Newton, a spokesman for the Greenfield campaign, says Greenfield participated in three televised debates and six public forums prior to this month’s primary and looks forward to debating Ernst this fall.

(Radio Iowa) — Former Vice President Joe Biden will be the keynote speaker at the Iowa Democratic Party’s “virtual” fundraiser next week. Due to the pandemic, the annual event will be livestreamed. The Hall of Fame dinner honors Iowa Democratic Party volunteers and elected officials. This year’s dinner will be held on Sunday evening, July 26th. Biden will formally be named the Democratic Party’s 2020 presidential nominee at the party’s national convention, which has been delayed until mid-August.

In early June of LAST YEAR, the Iowa Democratic Party’s Hall of Fame dinner featured 19 of the party’s presidential candidates. Biden was not among them. He attended a grandchild’s graduation that weekend.

The Iowa Department of Public Health, today (Monday) said the number of positive COVID-19 cases has topped 26,000. In the latest data for the 24-hour period ending at 10-a.m., officials confirmed 183 additional COVID-19 cases, for a total to-date of 26,048. There was also one additional COVID-19 death since Sunday, for a total 686. The State’s website said 479 of the deaths involved Iowans with preexisting conditions, one more than Sunday.

The number of Iowans testing negative is 232,584 out of 259,002 tested, or one out of every 14 persons. Officials say 16, 101 persons have recovered from the virus. Polk County reports the most cases in the state, with 5,513.

COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care facilities account for 356 of the state’s total deaths. Iowa DPH reports 169 hospitalizations, of which 51 patients are in intensive care. Six patients with COVID-19 symptoms were admitted to hospitals Sunday, eight fewer than the day before.

There were no changes to the RMCC Region 4 data, which show eight persons hospitalized, 5 are in an ICU, none admitted and 1 on a ventilator. In Cass and surrounding counties, here are the total number of positive COVID-19 cases being reported, and (in parenthesis) the number of patients who have recovered from the virus.

• Cass 16, or 2.4% tested positive; (15 recovered); 663 tested negative
• Adair (11)
• Adams 7 (5)
• Audubon 15 (10)
• Montgomery 10 (6)
• Pottawattamie 620 (388)
• Shelby 79 (41)

The Adair County Sheriff’s Department report the arrest Sunday afternoon, of 20-year old Payton Allyssa Hill, from Greenfield. Hill was taken into custody on an Adair County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense. She was initially held without bond on the warrant. She plead guilty during an initial court appearance, and was released a few hours later.