The number of positive tests for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, quintupled in the most recent eight days in Dallas County, according to Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) data.
Dallas County had 99 positive cases on April 23. By May 1, the most recent date for which IDPH data is available, the total was 515 cases, a 420% increase in eight days.
Dallas County has the third-highest rate of positive cases in Iowa, according to IDPH data. Fully 34% of people tested in Dallas County return positive results, behind Louisa County at 43% and Woodbury County at 35% and tied with Marshall County.
Dallas County was not among the 77 counties Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds relaxed social-distancing measures in starting May 1. The restrictions were imposed March 14 in an effort to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The IDPH has issued guidance on reopening.
In the 77 counties, Reynolds’ proclamation permitted the reopening, in a limited fashion and with public-health measures remaining in place, of restaurants, fitness centers, malls, libraries, race tracks and certain other retail establishments.
The proclamation also lifted restrictions on religious and spiritual gatherings so long as the religious and spiritual gatherings use “reasonable public health measures,” the governor said.
All other regulatory relief previously provided to affected Iowans was also extended until Wednesday, May 27. The full proclamation is online in its entirety: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.
Along with Dallas County, the hot-spot counties still under virtual lockdown include Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Dallas, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fayette, Henry, Iowa, Jasper, Johnson, Linn, Louisa, Marshall, Muscatine, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Tama, Washington and Woodbury counties.
Tyson continues to block reporting on the number of Covid cases inside the Perry plant. The city of Perry is being forced to walk a tightrope with Tyson and the Health Dept. Tyson risks our citizens’ lives to sustain the corporate decision makers’ quarterly bonuses. Tyson appears to treat their hogs far better than their employees and our townspeople, and that’s not saying much. This is not acceptable or remotely humane. How does this complete lack of caring on Tyson’s part translate in normal times? I understand the importance of providing food to the country, but at what cost? And how much of the product from the plant gets shipped out of the country anyway? The future, by way of the past. No more OSHA, USDA or state/county health regulation.
—