(Johnston) Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced at her daily press conference today 97 new positive COVID-19 cases bringing the total to 1,145 positive cases in the state. One positive test showed up in one new county (Worth), bringing the total to 79 counties. There were a total of 1,151 negative tests bringing the total to 12,821 and 1,329 tests available. The Governor says 122 individuals hospitalized, and 431 have recovered, which is 38-percent of all positive cases. The Iowa Department of Public Health reports one additional death. An elderly adult, (81+) in Linn County.
(More information is posted below the story).
Governor Reynolds noted while the state is working to protect Iowans from this virus, they’re also looking ahead to ensure the health of the state’s economy.
On March 23, Governor Reynolds launched a new Iowa Small Business Relief Program to provide financial assistance to small businesses economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program offered grants ranging from $5,000-$25,000, in addition to providing a deferral of sales and use or withholding taxes due and waiver of penalty and interest to eligible businesses.
Reynolds says the small business relief grants were also in high demand. The Economic Development Authority received nearly 14,000 applications from Iowa businesses requesting almost $148 million in available assistance.
Applicants receiving a grant award in the first round of funding have gone out, and the rest will be going out the remainder of this week.
The initial round of funding totaled more than 10 million dollars, with grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. Half of those contracts have been signed and are now in the process of getting their checks. Eligible applicants that do not receive notification this week are qualified for potential funding in the future. Iowa business owners impacted by COVID-19 are encouraged to visit iowabusinessrecovery.com for information about all programs and resources that may be available that touch on business relief.
According to IDPH, an additional death was also reported:
- Linn County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
According to IDPH, the locations and age ranges of the 97 individuals include:
- Allamakee County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Benton County, 1 child (0-17 years)
- Black Hawk County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 3 middle-age adults (41-60 years)
- Cedar County, 3 adults (18-40 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Clinton County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
- Crawford County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
- Harrison County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
- Henry County, 2 adults (18-40 years)
- Johnson County, 10 adults (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 2 older adult (61-80 years)
- Linn County, 1 child (0-17 years), 4 adults (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 3 older adults (61-80 years), 2 elderly adults (81+)
- Louisa County, 4 adults (18-40 years), 5 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Marshall County, 1 adult (18-40 years)
- Muscatine County, 4 adults (18-40 years), 5 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Polk County, 2 adults (18-40 years), 4 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Pottawattamie County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Scott County, 4 adults (18-40 years), 7 middle-age adults (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Tama County, 1 adult (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 2 older adults (61-80 years)
- Warren County, 1 elderly adult (81+)
- Washington County, 3 adults (18-40 years), 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years), 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Webster County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
- Woodbury County, 2 middle-age adults (41-60 years)
- Worth County, 1 middle-age adult (41-60 years)
A status report of monitoring and testing of COVID19 in I
