DES MOINES – Today (Sunday), the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been notified of 384 additional positive cases for a total of 5,476 positive cases. There have been an additional 1,356 negative tests for a total of 30,614 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs. The number of positive cases will continue to grow as Test Iowa sites open and additional surveillance testing of large businesses and nursing home staff continues.

According to IDPH, an additional 6 deaths were also reported, 286 are currently hospitalized, and 1,900 Iowans have recovered. At this time, 1 in 87 Iowans have already been tested.

According to IDPH the additional 6 deaths were reported in the following counties:

• Black Hawk County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
• Clinton County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Des Moines County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Johnson County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Linn County, 1 elderly adult (81+)

The state of Iowa has released an updated dashboard on coronavirus.iowa.gov that will be updated daily to include comprehensive tracking of COVID-19 in Iowa. The new dashboard includes cases, deaths, and tests conducted in each county. The state is now providing demographic information that was not previously provided as well as Iowa’s epidemiological curve.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County, late Saturday night, said a Cass County man was arrested Saturday night after being pulled-over twice in 24-hours for the same offense. Brian Eilts, of Massena, was pulled over on Highway 34 at Gingko Avenue, at around 8:45-a.m., Friday. Upon further investigation, Eilts was found to have a barred license. He was charged and then released from the scene.

At around 8-p.m. Saturday, Adams County Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Eilts at Birch Avenue and 240th Street. He was subsequently arrested for Driving While Barred. Eilts was transported to the Adams County Jail and held pending an appearance before the magistrate.

A central Iowa casino is expected to announce on Monday, that layoffs will begin May 3rd for 1,000 staff members. KCCI reports the layoffs will come from Prairie Meadows Hotel & Casino, in Altoona. The casino is owned by Polk County, and operated by a non-profit board of directors. It employs more than 1,300 people.

A county official told KCCI all but about 70 staff members will be temporarily laid off. The official said the laid-off staff will still receive health benefits and the casino hopes to reopen on June 1st.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:05 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A major nursing home for veterans has reported its first two COVID-19 cases, which is a worrying development on a day in which cases hit a new daily high in the state. The home’s commandant says one resident tested positive Friday and another Saturday during mass testing at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. He says they were transferred immediately to the VA hospital in Des Moines for precautionary care. Iowa reported Saturday that 648 more individuals have tested positive for the coronavirus, smashing the daily record set Friday of 521 even though hundreds fewer tests were completed.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — One person is dead after fire broke out at a home in northeastern Iowa. The Charles City Fire Department said the blaze was reported about 2:20 a.m. Saturday. Arriving firefighters found heavy smoke and determined the fire was confined to the kitchen area. The victim was found during a search of the home. Fire officials say the victim was alone in the home. An investigation determined that the fire was likely caused by cooking materials overheating.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials at the University of Iowa are investigating the Sigma Chi chapter there after the fraternity was accused of holding a party in violation of the state’s order banning gatherings of 10 or more people. The Press-Citizen reports the frat party allegedly took place March 28 with as many as 50 people and may have involved underaged drinking. Iowa City police confirmed receiving a report of a party at the Sigma Chi house, but said no officer responded to the scene. Sigma Chi Fraternity International did not immediately respond Friday to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa jail administrator is on temporary leave after making anti-Muslim and anti-gay remarks. Muscatine County Sheriff C.J. Ryan confirmed Friday that administrator Dean Naylor was placed on leave pending an internal investigation. The Des Moines Register reports Naylor posted online remarks that called Muslims “pawns to the devil” and described “the gay lifestyle” as an abomination. Officials in Johnson County, which houses overflow inmates in Muscatine County, called for Naylor’s removal. A union representing employees at the Muscatine County jail and national advocacy group for Muslims also sought Naylor’s removal.

Officials with Pottawattamie County Public Health today (Saturday), reported five new COVID-19 cases. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Pottawattamie County is now twenty-five. Seventeen individuals have recovered, seven are self-isolating at home, zero are currently hospitalized, and there has been one death.

The five new cases all reside in Council Bluffs and include three males and two females. These individuals were tested between April 13 and April 23. Two individuals are in the 41-60 age range, two are in the 18-40 age range, and one is a child between 0-17 years old. Two of them have pre-existing conditions and three do not. Two of these individuals have had contact with an existing COVID-19 case, and three were the result of community spread. All five of these individuals are self-isolating at home.

Pottawattamie County Public Health is conducting the contact tracing investigations and is in communication with the Iowa Department of Public Health. Pottawattamie County Public Health wants to draw attention to the fact that an increase in COVID-19 testing capacity will likely result in an increased number of positive COVID-19 cases. The total number of Iowans tested for COVID-19, along with positive and negative results, can be found at www.coronavirus.iowa.gov.

Governor Reynolds continues to encourage all Iowans, regardless of symptoms, to go to www.testIowa.com and complete the assessment. TestIowa is a new initiative designed to dramatically increase the rate of COVID-19 testing so Iowans can have better access to testing and help stem the spread of COVID-19 to get us back to normal as quickly as possible. In the first 48 hours nearly 121,000 Iowans completed the assessment.

The best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 is to stay at home as much as possible. Only leave home for essential reasons. Do not visit big box stores except for essential grocery and pharmaceutical needs. If you must leave home, practice social distancing, and stay at least six feet away from others. Implement excellent hygiene and disinfectant practices. Wash hands and disinfect frequently touched surfaces multiple times per day. Isolate if you are sick.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A major nursing home for veterans has reported its first two COVID-19 cases, which is a worrying development on a day in which cases hit a new daily high in the state. The home’s commandant says one resident tested positive Friday and another Saturday during mass testing at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. He says they were transferred immediately to the VA hospital in Des Moines for precautionary care.

Iowa reported Saturday that 648 more individuals have tested positive for the coronavirus, smashing the daily record set Friday of 521 even though hundreds fewer tests were completed. The total number of positive cases as of today (Saturday), is 5,092. There have been an additional 1,730 negative tests for a total of 29,258 negative tests to date, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs.

The number of positive cases will continue to grow as Test Iowa sites open and additional surveillance testing of large businesses and nursing home staff continues.  According to IDPH, an additional 5 deaths were also reported, 293 are currently hospitalized, and 1,723 Iowans have recovered. At this time, 1 in 91 Iowans have already been tested.

According to IDPH the additional 5 deaths were reported in the following counties:

• Black Hawk County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
• Johnson County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Polk County, 1 older adult (61-80 years), 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Scott County, 1 elderly adult (81+)

Note: A previously identified case in Clinton County upon further investigation is a resident of Illinois.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Now that Iowa’s governor will allow elective surgeries to resume next week, one of the state’s largest hospitals said it’s preparing to do so under conditions that will be the “new normal.” Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds said Friday that her first step in reopening Iowa’s economy after a lengthy shutdown caused by the coronavirus includes allowing elective surgeries to resume starting Monday.

Her proclamation also allows farmers markets to resume. University of Iowa Health Care said in a statement that while elective procedures will resume Friday, it will hardly be a return to normal.