CORALVILLE – The Iowa Dept. of Corrections was notified overnight that the COVID-19 test results for an inmate at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center (IMCC) were returned positive.  The inmate was a new admission to IMCC, and arrived from Henry County on Thursday, April 16th. As part of IMCC’s efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, all new admissions are kept in an intake quarantine cohort for 14-day observation.

While in this quarantine observation, the inmate began displaying symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Medical staff then conducted a test on the inmate, which was returned as positive. The inmate is currently in medical isolation, and a thorough contact tracing is taking place to identify any inmates or staff that may have had exposure since his arrival.

The inmate is described as an adult (age 18-40), and was sentenced to prison for drug crimes. Due to privacy laws, no further information can be provided on the inmate. Their family has been notified. The inmate is in stable condition but being monitored by IMCC medical staff around the clock.

The department has been preparing for the eventuality of COVID-19 in the prison system for more than a month. An outline of the steps that have been taken can be found at doc.iowa.gov/department-corrections-steps, and more information related to COVID-19 in the DOC can be found at doc.iowa.gov/COVID19.

For members of the public with questions about COVID-19 in the prison system, a hotline is available during business hours Monday-Friday by calling (515) 373-5457.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has reported another 10 COVID-19-related deaths* and saw its total number of confirmed coronavirus cases rise 7.8% to more than 2,500. The Iowa Department of Public Health reported Saturday that it had been notified of an additional 181 cases since Friday. The number of COVID-19-related deaths jumped to 74, up 15.6% since Friday.

The department said the deaths included one adult from 41 to 60 years old and two adults 81 years old or older in Linn County in eastern Iowa. The county, is home to Cedar Rapids and the state’s second most-populous county and has the most confirmed coronavirus cases, with 332.

*The additional 10 deaths were reported in the following counties:

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

(Clarinda) — Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Health have confirmed another positive COVID-19 case in Page County. The case was a patient between 61-and 80-years of age, who contracted the virus through travel. The individual was recovering at home in isolation. The latest case of COVID-19 brings the total number in Page County, to four.

Officials in Pottawattamie County, late Friday, reported that as of Friday, April 17th, Pottawattamie County Public Health said there continues to be a total of eighteen COVID-19 cases, eleven of which have recovered, four are self-isolating at home, two are hospitalized, and there has been one death.

On Friday, April 17th, the Douglas County (Nebraska) Health Department confirmed that two employees of Tyson Foods in Council Bluffs tested positive for COVID-19 on April 14. Both of these individuals reside in Douglas County, Nebraska; therefore, the cases are not reflected in Pottawattamie County’s COVID-19 numbers. Both individuals are self-isolating at home.

Pottawattamie County Public Health is in contact with Tyson Foods and Iowa Department of Public Health. Because a large number of Tyson Foods employees live in Omaha, Pottawattamie County Public Health will continue to work closely with Douglas County and the Nebraska health systems to navigate the situation as it evolves. Pottawattamie County will provide updates as they become available.