Gazette Weekend News Briefing, April 25 and 26th
This is Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette digital news desk and I’m here with your update for the weekend of April 25th and April 26th.
It’s the weekend! Actually, some of you are working today, as am I. But it’s all about celebrating the little victories these days.
For your weekend forecast, it will be a bit cool, but there should be some respite from the rain that will return Monday and Tuesday. So try to enjoy those outdoor activities you have in mind. According to the National Weather Service, Saturday in the Cedar Rapids area should be cloudy with a high near 60 degrees, with a northeast wind of 10 to 15 mph. It will then become gradually more clear Saturday night with the wind dying down to 5 mph. Sunday will pick up where Saturday left off, with a high near 64 degrees, sunny skies, and calm winds.
On a day Iowa reported its highest tally yet of new coronavirus cases and deaths, Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday announced the first steps in her plan to reopen businesses and amenities. Iowa saw 521 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 Friday and 11 more deaths from the disease. This bring’s the state’s totals to 4,445 with the disease and 107 deaths. The state expects the number to worsen in the days ahead, perhaps only to lessen after its currently predicted peak in mid-May.
Despite these grim numbers, Reynolds announced she was loosening some restrictions.
While her orders closing down many businesses and limiting gatherings are in effect until at least next Thursday, she ordered changes starting Monday that loosen restrictions on elective surgeries and summer farmer markets — still with many caveats enforcing social distancing.
Reynolds said she is basing much of this initial reopening on the fact that many counties in Iowa are sparsely populated and have had few to no cases reported of the disease. She said this, along with increased testing, could allow for a phased in, regional reopening of the state.
The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics announced Friday that it would be ready to meet the state’s requirements in order to restart elective surgeries. This includes having the necessary protective equipment and putting restrictions in place to limit the spread of COVID-19.
A pair of Iowa Hawkeyes have joined Tristan Wirfs in learning their NFL destinations. After a disappointing night where he dropped out of the first round Thursday, A.J. Epenesa was picked by the Buffalo Bills with the #54 draft in the second round Friday. Iowa defensive back Michael Ojemudia was picked not too long after, at #77, by the Denver Broncos.
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