Gov. Kim Reynolds launched an initiative Tuesday to test thousands of Iowans for COVID-19 on the heels of a record increase in positive cases.The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 482 positive COVID-19 cases and four additional deaths.Reynolds’ $25 million TestIowa initiative promises up to 3,000 additional COVID-19 tests per day for Iowans who qualify through the testiowa.com website.“It will help us gather critical information form Iowans that help our health officials to better target and fight the virus,” Reynolds said.TestIowa is based on an identical program in Utah.Iowans can take a three-step assessment to see if they qualify for a free drive-thru test, with results promised in 48 hours.The assessment requires personal information, but the state said the information will not go to Utah-based Nomi Health or the Silicon Slopes Initiative.The contract between Iowa and Nomi Health breaks down the $26 million total cost to purchase 540,000 tests over the next six months.Federal funds will pay $48 per test.“I think it's definitely a step in the right direction,” Des Moines internal medicine physician Dr. Austin Baeth said. “I was pretty excited to hear of the rollout today.”Baeth said expanding the state’s COVID-19 testing is critical.“It's really the only way we can get control of this pandemic so we can hopefully open up the state soon,” Baeth said.He said TestIowa’s ease of access for most is a big plus, but Iowans without internet access or who do not primarily speak English could be left behind.“We do have a good proportion of Iowans in whom English is not their primary language,” Baeth said.The first drive-thru testing site opens Wednesday in Tama. Another site opens Saturday in the Iowa Events Center.Another opens Saturday at the Iowa Events Center.Baeth cautioned false negatives can happen and Iowans who test negative but still feel symptomatic should stay home.

Gov. Kim Reynolds launched an initiative Tuesday to test thousands of Iowans for COVID-19 on the heels of a record increase in positive cases.

The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 482 positive COVID-19 cases and four additional deaths.


Reynolds’ $25 million TestIowa initiative promises up to 3,000 additional COVID-19 tests per day for Iowans who qualify through the testiowa.com website.

“It will help us gather critical information form Iowans that help our health officials to better target and fight the virus,” Reynolds said.

TestIowa is based on an identical program in Utah.

Iowans can take a three-step assessment to see if they qualify for a free drive-thru test, with results promised in 48 hours.

The assessment requires personal information, but the state said the information will not go to Utah-based Nomi Health or the Silicon Slopes Initiative.

The contract between Iowa and Nomi Health breaks down the $26 million total cost to purchase 540,000 tests over the next six months.

Federal funds will pay $48 per test.

“I think it's definitely a step in the right direction,” Des Moines internal medicine physician Dr. Austin Baeth said. “I was pretty excited to hear of the rollout today.”

Baeth said expanding the state’s COVID-19 testing is critical.

“It's really the only way we can get control of this pandemic so we can hopefully open up the state soon,” Baeth said.

He said TestIowa’s ease of access for most is a big plus, but Iowans without internet access or who do not primarily speak English could be left behind.

“We do have a good proportion of Iowans in whom English is not their primary language,” Baeth said.

The first drive-thru testing site opens Wednesday in Tama. Another site opens Saturday in the Iowa Events Center.

Another opens Saturday at the Iowa Events Center.

Baeth cautioned false negatives can happen and Iowans who test negative but still feel symptomatic should stay home.