BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — A doctor who worked at a hospital south of Omaha over the weekend has tested positive for COVID-19. Hospital spokesman Taylor Wilson says the doctor saw patients at Bellevue Medical Center and then developed symptoms. Wilson says the hospital employees and the nine patients who had contact with the doctor have been notified. He also says the doctor’s initial test results are awaiting confirmation by federal authorities. The doctor is experiencing mild symptoms and is in isolation at home.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Transit systems in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines have taken steps to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. City of Cedar Rapids Transit buses will carry no more than 10 passengers at a time starting Wednesday in order to minimize contact. Officials encouraged people to limit usage to essential rides, such as trips to work or to grocery stores. The Des Moines transit system has stopped fare collections and is asking riders who can safely do so to get on and off buses through the back doors. The goal is to minimize contact between riders and system employees.

(Radio Iowa) — Many businesses across Iowa are encouraging — or ordering — employees to work from home indefinitely, but it’s not an option for many of us, especially factory workers. Mike Ralston, president of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, says he’s not aware of any major factory closures in the state due to coronavirus, but it’s certainly having a chilling effect on commerce. “The biggest impact for Iowa manufacturers so far is not that they have to close their doors, but that they’re experiencing issues involving their supply chain,” Ralston says. “Maybe they work with a vendor who can’t get product to them so they can’t make their product — or they have delays in their product. That’s probably the biggest thing.”

Iowans are innovative and they’re finding ways to work around their challenges, Ralston says, even during a national emergency. He adds, many Iowa manufacturers don’t keep a lot of inventory in stock, which is often a smart practice, but not so much during this situation. “What they’re doing is trying to find different suppliers, having some success with that,” Ralston says. “In other ways, they’re delayed in delivering their final product. So those are probably the two biggest things, finding other suppliers, and they’re able to do that so far, or just having delays in their delivery.”  Most Iowans who work in factories can’t “shelter in place” and do their work from anywhere other than the workplace, so Ralston says employers are taking precautions. “It’s tough to have a manufacturing production worker work from home — that obviously doesn’t work,” Ralston says. “In many plants and factories, workers by nature are at least six feet apart in most situations. They’re also trying to make sure that employees, when they take breaks, for instance, that they maintain social distancing.”

Ralston has a message for Iowa consumers, urging them to continue doing their part to keep the wheels of industry turning. “Be safe with your family but try to make it business as usual,” Ralston says. “Make sure the goods and services you normally purchase you’re purchasing in some way still. Pay attention to what the experts are telling us about health and safety, and as much as possible, try to make it business as usual.”

The Association of Business and Industry is Iowa’s largest statewide business organization with more than 1,500 member companies representing 330,000 working Iowans.

(On the web at https://www.iowaabi.org/)

(Radio Iowa) — The state’s two major grocery store chains are adjusting their hours in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Boone-based Fareway stores spokesperson, Emily Toribio, says starting today (Wednesday) stores will be open Monday through Saturday from 8 a-m until 7 p-m. She says the first hour of business will be reserved for those who are 65 and older, expectant mothers, those with a pre-existing condition that makes them more susceptible to illness. Fareway stores are not open on Sundays. Toribio says the employees will be busy during the time the stores are closed. “The reason for the adjustment in the time is to allow our stores to continue to clean and sanitize and increase those measures during the closure period. As well as restock the shelves so we can continue to serve our customers,” Toribio says.

West Des Moines-based Hy-Vee stores spokesperson Christina Gayman says they are also adjusting hours beginning today (Wednesday). “All Hy-Vee grocery stores will close at eight p-m and then until further notice, our new store hours will be eight a-m to eight p-m seven days a week,” Gayman says. “These shortened hours are just going to allow our employees additional time to clean, sanitize all areas of the stores, and restock the highest demand items — and it will also allow those employees to have more time to care for their own families and loved ones.” Gayman says the Hy-Vee convenience store hours will stay the same. “No changes there. Customers can continue to purchase snacks, fuel, other items,” according to Gayman. “The one exception I would say — if a convenience store has a dinning area in it — some of them do, some of them don’t. Those dinning areas are closed.”

There are pictures all over social media of store shelves where toilet paper and other items that are empty. Gayman says that’s not because there is a shortage. “No, we are not experiencing any supply issues. I can tell you that obviously like other retailers –we are seeing some of those more in-demand items going a little more quickly every day. So, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, water, hand soap, but we are continuing to get deliveries every day, if not almost daily at our stores.” Toribio at Fareway says they don’t have a supply issue either — but are seeing the same thing with certain items. “We are working really hard with our suppliers to make sure that we keep our shelves as stocked as possible. And we just ask that customers be patient with us as we work through some of those things,” Toribio says.

Gayman says she hasn’t seen the hoarding type purchases of these items like this before. “You know I really haven’t and I have talked to a few other Hy-Vee employees who would say winter storms are typically when you would influx of customers grabbing items such as these,” Gayman says. “But no, we haven’t seen anything like this — I don’t think anyone has.” Toribio at Fareway agrees. “We usually get an increase in traffic right before some sort of big weather event — but yeah — this is kind of a new, unprecedented time,” Toribio says.

Hy-Vee operates more than 265 retail stores across eight Midwestern states. Fareway operates 122 grocery store locations in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

On Tuesday, March 17th, 2020, Governor Kim Reynolds issued a declaration of statewide public health disaster emergency based on the Iowa Department of Public Health’s determination that the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the state is increasing and confirmation of substantial community spread of the disease in Iowa.  At this time, there are no confirmed cases in Cass County.  However, this situation is very fluid.

Several items in the Governor’s declaration address routine business of the offices of the county courthouses.  In response to the declaration, Cass County officials have taken steps to comply with the intent of the Governor’s declaration and protect both county employees and the public from any unnecessary exposure.  Beginning today (March 18th), the Cass County Courthouse will be closed to the general public.  The offices will be fully staffed with personnel available to answer phone calls and assist with functions that can be accomplished online or by other remote means.

If it is absolutely essential that you come to the courthouse in person, please call first and staff members will be prepared to admit you to the building and assist you as expeditiously as possible to minimize health risk. Many forms and routine tasks can be completed online at: https://www.atlanticiowa.com/county   You may even pay your taxes online.  This is also a good place to locate information about specific courthouse offices and the contact information for each office. ​Some information and tasks can be taken care of with a phone call.  The courthouse number is (712) 243-4570 with automated directory.

​Officials say at this time, there is no plan to postpone court appearance dates that have already been set.  If you are scheduled to appear in court, you are advised to check with your attorney to confirm the time and date.  If you have other questions regarding a court appearance you may contact the Clerk of Court (712) 243-2105.

​The Cass County Board of Supervisors have the health and safety of all county residents as well as county staff as the top priority in these uncertain times.  Individuals are encouraged to use online services, the U.S. Postal Service, and telephone calls whenever possible to conduct county business.  If you have a fever, a dry cough, have traveled out of the U.S. this winter, or have come in contact with someone who has, consider “self-quarantine” and stay away from public places.

Officials in Adams County said Tuesday, the Adams County Courthouse will be closed to the public effective 8:30-a.m. today (Wednesday). Offices in the courthouse will remain open for phone calls, though. The various office staff will assist you by phone or e-mail. The website with a listing of County contact information can be found at www.adamscountyia.com.  Additional information and updates can be found on the Adams-County-Iowa Facebook page.

Persons needing the Adams County Sheriff’s Office should use the east doors, with an intercom available for you to speak to Sheriff’s officials.

Two people were arrested on separate drug charges in Red Oak. Red Oak Police report 56-year old Kevin Leon Simmons, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 2:20-a.m. today (Wednesday), for Possession of Meth, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Marijuana. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond. And, at around 7:15-p.m. Tuesday, 23-year old Savanna Rachelle Abraham, of Red Oak, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was cited at the scene and released after given a court date set for later this year.