Gazette Daily News Briefing, Dec. 10
Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday she is extending through Dec. 16 a COVID-19 emergency proclamation that imposed some mask requirements and put limitations on the size of gatherings.
Under an order the governor issued last month, all Iowans must wear face coverings while indoors in public and within 6 feet of others for 15 minutes. Reynolds said Wednesday she is extending those restrictions for one week, as well as the provision that requires bars, restaurants and other venues serving alcohol to close at 10 p.m.
Iowa’s coronavirus deaths topped 3,000 on Wednesday, with an additional 102 deaths reported, bringing the state’s virus death toll to 3,017.
The state also reported 2,545 new virus cases as of 11 a.m. Wednesday. Since March, 248,782 coronavirus cases have been reported in Iowa, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.
Reynolds also reiterated her belief Wednesday that Iowa’s K-12 students should be in the classroom. She indicated she will push for a requirement that all districts offer students an option for 100 percent in-person instruction.
Reynolds cited studies showing the virus does not spread as rapidly among school-aged children as it does adults, and expressed concern that students who are learning remotely could fall behind.
The governor said state data suggests most COVID-19 cases in schools have been the result of transmission outside of school, and that most cases are occurring among staff not students. Linn and Johnson County officials have said the same of cases at local schools.
As of Monday, 26 of Iowa’s over 300 school districts had at least one building that was in hybrid or fully remote instruction, according to state Education Department data.
Many districts seeking waivers for online learning have said they don’t have enough staff available even if students were forced to be in schools.
Any legislative proposal would have to start with fellow Republicans, who hold majorities in both chambers of the Legislature, scheduled to convene Jan. 11.
As soon as next week, University of Iowa Health Care expects to be administering doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to its front-line workers. Campus leaders said Wednesday they’re finalizing logistics to ensure they’re ready for the Pfizer vaccine, assuming there is emergency use authorization.
UIHC has broken its 18,000-some employees into four groups for vaccine prioritization, Gunasekaran said.
The first group of about 1,500 to 2,000 employees includes physicians, nurses, therapists, housekeepers and others most directly involved in patient care.
The second group covers those supporting patient care on the main campus, while the third group involves workers supporting patient care off-site and at clinics.
The fourth group includes all other UIHC staff involved in supporting health care delivery but are not on the front lines.
Leaders estimate UIHC will receive about 1,000 doses in its first shipment.
UnityPoint Health will increase its minimum wage to $15 per hour in January for Iowa and Illinois employees, the West Des Moines-based health care provider said Wednesday.
The increase will affect about a third of UnityPoint’s 30,000 employees, including nursing assistants and those working in housekeeping and food service, according to a news release.
“We know there’s a strong tie between a person’s financial health and overall health,” John Sheehan, UnityPoint’s chief administrative officer, said in the news release.
UnityPoint, which has 40 hospitals in the Midwest — as well as St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids — and is one of the largest health care providers in the country, already paid a $15 minimum wage in Wisconsin.
According to the National Weather Service, there will be patchy fog before 10 a.m. today. Otherwise, it will be sunny, with a high near 52. Thursday night there will be increasing clouds, with a low around 32. Snow is expected in the forecast late Friday and on Saturday.
