Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines Public Schools, Iowa’s largest school district, will cancel all classes and activities for at least 17 days starting Friday evening. The news Thursday came as health officials announced two new cases of COVID-19 in Iowa, bring the state’s total to 16. In a letter sent to staff, Superintendent Thomas Ahart announced Thursday that classes wouldn’t immediately return after spring break next week. Ahart expressed hope that classes could resume March 30 but given the “dynamic situation,” officials would have to adjust as needed. The move will effect the district’s 33,000 students and 5,000 employees. The school district’s decision comes as many colleges are taking similar actions.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republican legislative leaders say they are not planning on curtailing the legislative session due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus. Some Iowa Democratic senators have encouraged Republican leaders to consider suspending the current session or going home early. Iowa has 16 people who have tested positive but the risk to the public in Iowa remains low. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver and House Speaker Pat Grassley say plans are for the session to proceed as usual. It’s scheduled to run through April 21. The Capitol remains open to the public.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State budget experts have reduced the estimated revenue for the state by $12.3 million from their December calculation. That means lawmakers must make a slight adjustment to their plans for the 2021 fiscal year starting in July. With an ending balance of more than $400 million, the adjustment won’t be significant. The Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference now estimates revenue at $8.24 billion, or $146 million more than the current year. Iowa’s budget director David Roederer says the coronavirus isn’t likely to affect 2020 fiscal year and the revenue impact on the fiscal year starting in July is difficult to predict.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Police say a man shot while trying to rob an armored vehicle outside a Waterloo bank branch has died and a suspected accomplice has been arrested. The shooting happened just before 10 a.m. Wednesday outside a U.S. Bank branch. Police and medics who arrived on the scene found a man with gunshot wounds who was taken to a hospital where he died later. He’s been identified as Bryce Miller, of rural La Porte City. The other man also was wounded and was caught later. A manager at Rochester Armored Car says none of the company employees was injured.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republican legislative leaders say they are not planning on curtailing the legislative session due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus. Some Iowa Democratic senators have encouraged Republican leaders to consider suspending the current session or going home early.

The latest report from the Iowa Dept. of Public Health, says 16 people have tested positive for COVID-19, but the risk to the public in Iowa remains low. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver and House Speaker Pat Grassley say plans are for the session to proceed as usual. It’s scheduled to run through April 21. The Capitol remains open to the public.

Atlantic, IA – Cass County Health System now has a hotline available for the public to address concerns about COVID-19 testing. People can call 712-243-7479 to listen to a recorded message about the current COVID-19 testing criteria. As the COVID-19 situation continues to change, the hotline will be updated with relevant information for the public.

At this time, the only people who can be tested for COVID-19 are:
· symptomatic people (i.e. have a fever, cough or shortness of breath) who had close contact with a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 within 14 days of symptom onset OR
· symptomatic people requiring hospitalization and a history of travel from affected geographic areas within 14 days of symptom onset OR
· symptomatic people with severe acute lower respiratory illness (e.g., pneumonia, ARDS) requiring hospitalization and without alternative explanatory diagnosis (e.g., influenza) and no source of exposure identified.

Officials say the need for COVID-19 testing will determined by your healthcare provider. If you are concerned about your symptoms and you meet these criteria, please call 712-243-3250.

The Iowa Department of Public Health says it is committed to taking critical steps to ensure long term care facility residents are protected from communicable diseases, including Novel Coronavirus [COVID-19].

Because older adults and those with chronic medical conditions are at highest risk for serious complications from COVID-19, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) encourages long term care facilities to align their practices with recent guidance issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services which limits non-essential visitors to long term care facilities. In addition, IDPH is requesting that long term care facilities report to the department when greater than two staff or residents are ill with respiratory symptoms without another diagnosis.

The Department further encourages long term care facilities to implement additional visitor limitation protocols as deemed necessary to protect the life and safety of their residents.

The CMS Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 is available here.

DES MOINES – Testing at Iowa’s State Hygienic Laboratory has indicated two additional positive cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iowa residents, a total of 16 positive cases. An additional 16 tests were negative.  According to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) both cases are tied to the same Egyptian cruise as other positive cases. Both are older adults (61 – 80 years), one is from Johnson County and one is from Carroll County. Both are recovering at home in isolation. And, as previously mentioned, one case is in Pottawattamie County, separate from the other test positives.

IDPH also put out guidance to PK-12 school administrators on COVID19 policies, linked here.

Gov. Reynolds said Thursday, “The health and safety of our students, teachers, and faculty is a top priority. At this time, the Iowa Department of Public Health is not advising any school closures. We are finalizing key decision points needed to mitigate COVID19 to provide school districts with thorough guidance. This situation remains very fluid, and we will continue to equip local school districts with the information they need. If any school districts have questions or concerns, please reach out to IDPH.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines Public Schools, Iowa’s largest school district, will cancel all classes and activities for at least 17 days starting Friday evening. The news Thursday came as health officials announced two new cases of COVID-19 in Iowa, bring the state’s total to 16. In a letter sent to staff, Superintendent Thomas Ahart announced Thursday that classes wouldn’t immediately return after spring break next week. Ahart expressed hope that classes could resume March 30 but given the “dynamic situation,” officials would have to adjust as needed. The move will effect the district’s 33,000 students and 5,000 employees. The school district’s decision comes as many colleges are taking similar actions.