DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa health officials reported 528 additional coronavirus cases and nine new deaths linked to COVID-19 to give the state a total of 9,169 cases. The Iowa Department of Public Health said Sunday that a total of 184 deaths have been reported in the state.

According to IDPH the most recent deaths were reported in the following counties:

• Black Hawk County, 2 elderly adults (81+)
• Bremer County. 1 elderly adult (81+)
• Dallas County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Dubuque, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
• Polk County, 2 older adults (61-80 years)
• Poweshiek County, 2 elderly adults (81+)

Iowa has begun lifting restrictions on many businesses and churches in 77 counties where few cases of the virus have been reported. More stringent rules remain in 22 counties, which include most of the state’s major cities. State health officials said Sunday that 77 percent of the new cases reported Sunday came from the 22 counties where restrictions remain in place.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police are investigating after pulling a body from the Des Moines River this weekend. Des Moines Police spokesman Sgt. Paul Parizek said officers were sent to Prospect Park Saturday afternoon after someone spotted a body in the Des Moines River. Rescue personnel from the Des Moines Fire Department removed the body from the water with help from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Parizek said an autopsy will be performed to identify the body and determine how the person died.

A traffic stop in Red Oak at around 4:50-this (Sunday) morning, resulted in the arrest of a man from Mills County. Red Oak Police report 18-year old Blake Robert Raymond, of Glenwood, was taken into custody following the traffic stop at the intersection of Highways 34 and 48, for OWI/1st offense, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

The Pottawattamie County Public Health Department, Saturday night, put out a statement related intended to address rumors related to COVID-19 testing criteria. Officials said “Testing criteria is based on guidance from the Iowa Hygienic Lab or private lab guidelines. Pottawattamie County Public Health does not have a role in deciding who does and does not get tested.”

Iowans are encouraged 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.

On May 2nd, Pottawattamie County remained at a total of 45 COVID-19 cases. Twenty-three individuals have recovered, 19 are self-isolating at home, one is hospitalized, and there have been two deaths. As a reminder, health officials said “We have community spread of COVID-19 in Pottawattamie County. Individuals should be taking precautions to protect themselves. Stay home as much as possible, limit travel and shopping. 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. And if you are sick, self-isolate at home.”

If you have COVID-19 symptoms or develop symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath), contact your healthcare provider before going to the doctor’s office or an emergency room.

The Atlantic Fire Department responded to two fire Saturday night. Fire Chief Tom Cappel says the first was a brush fire that got out of control near the Cass County Landfill. The fire spread to a nearby building, but was quickly extinguished. As soon as that fire was under control, Atlantic Fire was called to America’s Best Value Inn on east 7th Street, at around 9:58-p.m., for a report of visibly smoke and flames from one of the rooms on the west side of the complex.

Atlantic Fire Dept. responds to America’s Best Value Inn (5/2/20 – Ric Hanson photo)

Cappel says Room 305 had food in the microwave. The occupant fell asleep and left the meal was left in the microwave for too long. The result was a section on the west side of the motel filling with smoke. Cappel says the only damage was to the microwave and some possible damage to the top of a refrigerator. The fire was already out by the time firefighters arrived. The area was ventilated and crews were on the scene until around 10:35-p.m.