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UPDATE: 2 deaths, 118 new COVID-19 cases reported in Iowa Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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GOV. REYNOLDS: GOOD MORNING. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND START WITH AN UPDATE ON THE NUMBERS. TODAY, WE HAVE 118 NEW POSITIVE CASES FOR A TOTAL OF 1300 88 POSITIVES. WE HAVE TWO NEW COUNTIES, OC ALLETE AND UNION, FOR A TOTAL OF 81 COUNTIES. WE HAVE 860 TWO NEGATIVE CASES TODAY FOR A TOTAL OF 14,565 NEGATIVE. THE STATE HYGIENIC LAB HAS 1974 TESTS AVAILABLE. AS OF LAST EVENING, WE HAVE 119 HOSPITALIZED, 506 RECOVERED, FOR A RECOVERY RATE OF 36%, AND I AM VERY SAD TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE HAD AN ADDITIONAL TWO DEATHS, ONE OLDER AND ONE ELDERLY ADULT, BOTH IN LYNN COUNTY, FOR A TOTAL OF 31 DEATHS. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST MONTH, WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED SIGNIFICANT MITIGATION STRATEGIES AIMED AT SLOWING THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 ACROSS OUR STATE, INCLUDING CLOSING BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS. AND WHILE THESE STEPS ARE NECESSARY AT THIS CRIPPLE TIME, IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO OVERLOOK THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT THEY HAVE ON IOWA FAMILIES. MORE THAN 354,000 ISLANDS ARE ALREADY --IOWANS ARE ALREADY FACING FOOD AND SECURITY, AND NOW THEY MAY BE DEALING WITH RECENT LAB -- LOTS OF JOBS, TROUBLED SCHOOL, AND MAKING ENDS MEET. I WAS FOOD BANKS AND 1200 COMMUNITY PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE PROVIDED 38 MILLION MEALS TO IOWANS IN NEED LAST YEAR, AND WHILE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS UNLIKE ANYTHING WE HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED, THEY REMAIN COMMITTED TO FEEDING EVEN MORE IOWA FAMILIES DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES. IN MARCH ALONE, IOWA’S FOOD PANTRIES HELP 65% MORE IOWANS WITH APPLICATIONS FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE THAN THIS TIME LAST YEAR, BUT AS THE NUMBER OF FOOD INSECURE IOWANS AND CREASES, SODAS THE DEMAND ON OUR FOOD BANKS AND PANTRIES. WITH RESTAURANTS OPEN FOR CARRYOUT AND DELIVERY, FOOD DONATIONS ARE DOWN, AND LESS FOOD IS BEING RESCUED FROM GROCERY STORES TO STOCK FOOD PANTRIES. TO HELP MEET THIS CHALLENGE, I HAVE CREATED THE FEEDING IOWANS TASK FORCE, AND I HAVE ASKED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GREGG TO LEAD THIS EFFORT. HE WILL BE JOINED WITH INDIVIDUALS FROM THE FOOD BANK, MY TEAM, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, HOMELAND SECURITY, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HUMANS SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF ED, DEPARTMENT OF AGING, AND OF COURSE VOLUNTEER IOWA. THE TASK FORCE WILL IDENTIFY POTENTIAL GAPS IN THE SYSTEM, CONNECTING RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT IOWANS HAVE FOOD ON THEIR TABLES AND MAKING SURE THAT IOWANS KNOW WHERE TO GO TO GET HELP. IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE NUDE OF -- NEED OF FOOD, GO TO YOUR NEAREST FOOD PANTRY OR GO TO CORONAVIRUS.IOWA.GOV FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE INFORMATION, WHERE YOU WILL FIND LINKS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, EDUCATION, AGING, AND OTHER STATE AGENCIES. THANKS TO FUNDING THROUGH THE C.A.R.E.S ACT, FOOD BANKS WILL RECEIVE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN DELIVERING SERVICES AND EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY. FOOD BANKS, PANTRIES, EMERGENCY MEAL SITES, AND SHELTERS NEED VOLUNTEERS. NEARLY 40% OF THE VOLUNTEER FORCE THAT KEEPS FOOD BANKS OPERATING IS MADE UP OF OLDER ADULTS WHO ARE OF COURSE AT MOST RISK AND NEED TO STAY HOME, AND THEY ARE DOING AS THEY SHOULD TO PROTECT THEIR HEALTH. VOLUNTEER IOWA HAS LAUNCHED COVID-19 VOLUNTEER PORTAL THAT INCLUDES MORE THAN 75 POSTINGS OF HIGH NEED, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS IOWA, SO IF YOU ARE HEALTHY, LOW RISK, AND DO NOT LIVE WITH ANYONE WHO IS ILL OR AT HIGH RISK, PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING TO ASSIST IN MEAL PACKING AT YOUR LOCAL FOOD BANK OR PANTRY. AND AGAIN, YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT AT CORONAVIRUS.IOWA.GOV. FINALLY, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE ORGANIATIONS AND BUSINESSES WHO HAVE STEPPED UP TO CONTRIBUTE GENEROUSLY TO THIS IMPORTANT CAUSE. IOWA IS A STATE THAT FEEDS THE WORLD, SO IT IS NO WONDER THAT IOWANS ANSWER THE CALL TO FEED THEIR OWN WHEN THE NEED ARISES. THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR DONATIONS TO FOOD BANKS AND MAIL PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE OF IOWA. IOWA PORK PRODUCERS HAVE DONATED 12,000 POUNDS OF PORK. IOWA BEEF COUNCIL, 5500 BEEF STEAKS. AE DAIRY IS DISTRIBUTING TO OUR SCHOOLS. TYSON FOODS HAS DONATED 200,000 POUNDS OF PRODUCT, EQUALING 8 MILLIO MEALS. IOWA BIG FARMERS CONTINUE THEIR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING 35,000 DOZEN EGGS EACH MONTH. SMITHFIELD FOODS, 27,000 POUNDS OF PORK, PROCESS AND PACKAGED BY MIDWEST PREMIERE. LYNCH LIFE COMPANIES HAVE DONATED 30,000 POUNDS OF PORK, AND THE LYNCH FAMILY FOUNDATION AND PREMIUM IOWA PORK WILL BE DONATING 250,000 POUNDS OF PORK OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK -- FOR THEIR 100,000 MATCHING DONATION TO ASSIST FOOD BANKS OF IOWA, THE IOWA FARM BUREAU FOUNDATION FOR THEIR 100,000 DONATION TO THE IOWA FOOD BANK ASSOCIATION, AND MID-AMERICA ENERGY, WHOSE FOUNDATION HAS CONTRIBUTED OR DONATED $500,000 TO SUPPORT IOWA FOOD INSECURITY RELIEF AT THIS TIME. YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF IOWANS AT A TIME WHEN IT IS MUCH-NEEDED, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT. AS WE END THE WEEK, I WANT TO LOOK AT THE DATA FOR RNCC REGIONS 1, 5, SIX, WHERE COVID-19 HAS HAD THE MOST IMPACT IN OUR STATE. THE RMCC REGION, WHICH INCLUDES THE DES MOINES METRO AREA, THEY HAD 35 COVID PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED YESTERDAY. ONE WAS ADMITTEDIN THE LAST 24 HOURS, 8 WERE NICU’S, AND SIX WERE ON VENTILATORS. OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR PATIENT CARE INCLUDED 1330 EIGHT INPATIENT BEDS. 157 ICU BEDS, AND 218 VENTILATORS. IN REGION 5, WHERE JOHNSON COUNTY AND SCOTT COUNTY IS LOCATED, THERE WERE 39 COVID-19 PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED YESTERDAY, 12 NEW PATIENTS WERE ADMITTED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, 14 WERE NICU’S, AND SIX WERE ON VENTILATORS. THERE WERE 600 AND 75 INPATIENT BEDS AVAILABLE, 79 ICU BEDS, AND 156 VENTILATORS. IN REGION 6, WHICH INCLUDES LINN COUNTY, AND YESTERDAY, THERE WERE 49 COVID-19 PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED, THREE NEW PATIENTS WERE ADMITTED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, 27 WERE IN ICU, AND 16 FOR ON VENTILATORS. THEY HAVE THE AVAILABILITY FOR 1170 INPATIENT BEDS, 78 ICU BEDS, AND 100 27 VENTILATORS AVAILABLE FOR PATIENT CARE. WHEN OUR HOSPITAL CAPACITY -- WHILE OUR HOSPITAL CAPACITY AND RESOURCES LOOK GOOD, ONE ISSUE THAT CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE IN IOWA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS A SHORTAGE OF PPE. THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAS ISSUED GUIDANCE ON PPE USAGE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, AND TODAY, THEY ARE TAKING ADDITIONAL STEPS TO PRESERVE PPE SUPPLY DURING THIS TIME, AND I HAVE ASKED SARAH RESTART TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. SARAH? -- SARAH REISETTER TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. SARAH? DEP. DIR. REISETTER: THANK YOU, GOVERNOR REYNOLDS. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE MANY IOWANS WHO HAVE DONATED PPE AND OUR INCREDIBLE MANUFACTURERS WHO ARE RAMPING UP PRODUCTION AS THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY USES MORE PPE THAN EVER BEFORE TO PROTECT HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND PATIENTS. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE, LIKE MANY STATES AND COUNTRIES ACROSS THE GLOBE, WE ARE PREPARING FOR A TIME WHEN WHERE PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH OF THESE SUPPLIES. ON APRIL 2, HOW DEPARTMENT ISSUED GUIDANCE FOR FACE MASKS AND RESPIRATOR EXTENDED USE OR REUSE IN TIMES OF CRISIS. TODAY, WE ARE TAKING THE ADDITIONAL STEP ON ISSUING A PPE SHORTAGE ORDER. THE ORDER REQUIRES ALL PROVIDERS TO WORK WITH OUR DEPARTMENT TO FURTHER ASSESS, MONITOR, AND EXTEND THE USE OF THE SUPPLY OF PPE IN OUR STATE AND IS BASED ON GUIDANCE THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE CDC. THE ORDER APPLIES TO HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, HOSPITALS, HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES, MEDICAL RESPONSE AND ORGANIZATIONS, AND ANY OTHERS THAT USE PPE FOR THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS OR RESIDENTS OF FACILITIES. THE ORDER REQUIRES THESE ENTITES TO DECREASE DEMAND FOR PPE BY MINIMIZING PATIENT CONTACTS WITH -- WHEN POSSIBLE, EXCUSE ME, AND MAXIMIZING THE WAY BARRIERS AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS ARE USED. COMPLYING WITH A BAND ON NONESSENTIAL MEDICAL SERVICES -- THIS WAS ORDERED BY GOVERNOR REYNOLDS LAST MONTH, AND IS INCLUDED IN THIS ORDER BY WAY OF REMINDER -- IT REQUIRES CANCELING -- CANCELING NONURGENT PROCEDURES, AND HAVING PATIENTS COVER THEIR MOUTH AND NOSE WITH A BARRIER OTHER THAN A FACE MASK. FINALLY, USING TELEMEDICINE WHEN POSSIBLE. PART OF THE DIRECTIVE IS FOCUSED ON LIMITING THE PPE WHEN DEMAND IS IN LIMITED SUPPLY. IF THE PPE IS STILL EXCEEDING AVAILABLE SUPPLY, THE ORDER DIRECTS THEM TO USE FACE MASKS THAT MAY BE BEYOND THEIR SHELFLIFE OR EXPIRATION DATE, NOT CHANGE FACE MASKS OR RESPIRATORS FOR EACH PATIENT ENCOUNTER, USE WASHABLE GOWNS, USE REUSABLE EYE PROTECTION, DECREASE THE LENGTH OF STAY FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS, IF THEY ARE MEDICALLY STABLE, AND THE THIRD STEP IN THE ORDER, IF PPE USE CONTINUES TO OUTPACE SUPPLY, IS TO AND LIMIT CRISIS CAPACITY STANDARDS, AND THIS WOULD INCLUDE REUSING PPE AND PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR REMOVAL AND REUSE, USING PPE PASSAGE SHELFLIFE, PRIORITIZING FACE MASKS FOR ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES THAT MAY INVOLVE DIRECT INFECTIOUS CONTACTS, AND CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES, SUCH AS USING HOMEMADE MASKS IN COMBINATION WITH FACE SHIELDS. THIS PPE SHORTAGE ORDER ALSO PROVIDES IMMUNITY PROTECTION FOR PROVIDERS WHO NEED TO IMPLEMENT THESE STRATEGIES RELATED TO THIS UNPRECEDENTED RESPONSE WHILE THEY CONTINUE TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE AND ASSISTANCE AND WHILE THEY ARE ACTING IN GOOD FAITH. WE UNDERSTAND THE ISSUANCE OF THIS ORDER MAY BE UNSETTLING, BUT DUE TO THE GLOBAL SHORTAGE OF PPE SUPPLY, WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE THIS ACTION. I AGAIN WANT TO THANK OUR HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE AND OTHER PROVIDERS WHO ARE ON THE FRONTLINE, DELIVERING HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND FACILITIES AS WELL AS IN IOWANS’ HOMES, AS WELL AS BANK AT PPE MANUFACTURERS AND OTHERS WHO ARE TAKING THE TIME TO MAKE THE MASKS AND FACE SHIELDS FOR ONE USE OF THEM MAY BECOME NECESSARY. FINALLY, ONE OF THE REASON FOR ISSUING THE PPE SHORTAGE ORDER IS TO INCREASE AWARENESS ACROSS THE STATE, AS DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR STATE ARE EXPERIENCING DIFFERENT CHALLENGES, AND AS WE ALL CONTINUE TO WORK TGETHER TO MAXIMIZE RESOURCES, SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF ALL IOWANS. PLEASE VISIT THE WEBPAGE FOR MORE DETAILS, INCLUDING GUIDANCE FOR MAKING HOMEMADE MASKS AND USING FACE COVERINGS WHEN IN PUBLIC. THANK YOU, GOVERNOR REYNOLDS. GOV. REYNOLDS: THANK YOU, SARAH. I APPRECIATE THAT. WHEN WE STARTED THIS WEEK, I TOLD IOWANS THAT IT COULD BE A DIFFICULT ONE, AND IT HAS BEEN, AS WE HAVE WATCHED OUR NUMBERS ARE POSITIVE CASES AND DEATHS CONTINUE TO INCREASE, BUT WE HAVE ALSO HAD SOME REASSURING SIGNS AS WELL. WE ARE SEEING OUR RECOVERY RATE INCREASE AND OUR CURVE BEGIN TO FLATTEN, WHICH ARE EARLY INDICATORS THAT WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS, BUT OUR WORK IS NOT YET DONE. AS I HAVE NOW, FOR MORE THAN A MONTH, I AM ASKING IOWANS TO CONTINUE TO DO YOUR PART TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS. YOUR EFFORTS, THEY ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE, SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAY HOME IF YOU CAN, LEAVE ONLY FOR ESSENTIAL ERRANDS, PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING -- WE KNOW IT WORKS -- DOUG RATHER -- DON’T GATHER IN GROUPS OF MORE THAN 10, AND IF A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY IS SICK OR YOU ARE SICK, ISOLATED HOME. AND IF WE CONTINUE TO TAKE THESE SIMPLE STEPS SERIOUSLY, WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. AND WITH THAT, WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS. >> GOVERNOR, MAYBE YOU COULD ANSWER, OR MAYBE SARAH, ALREADY SO MANY HEALTH-CARE WORKERS HAVE COME DOWN WITH THIS VIRUS, AND NOW THE THREAT COULD BE THAT THEY HAVE TO REUSE GEAR THAT MAYBE WON’T PROTECT THEM AS WELL. THAT HAS GOT TO BE A CONCERN, I WOULD IMAGINE, FOR THEM, AND FOR YOU TRYING TO HELP THEM. GOV. REYNOLDS: YEAH, AND YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE PERCENTAGES IN JUST A SECOND. I KNOW ABOUT 20% OF HEALTH CARE, BUT THAT IS SIMILAR TO OTHER HOUSEHOLD PERCENTAGES, SIMILAR WHEN YOU ARE CONFINED AREAS LIKE THAT, BUT IT HAS BEEN A CONCERN ALL ALONG, AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE IMPLEMENT AT THE MITIGATION EFFORTS WE HAVE, NOT ONLY TO PROTECT OLDER IOWANS AND TO BEND AND SLOW THE SPREAD IN FLATTEN THE CURVE TO PREVENT, YOU KNOW, FROM OVERWHELMING OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, TOO, TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, THOSE INDIVIDUALS ON THE FRONT LINES, SO WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WE CAN PROVIDE THEM THE PPE THAT THEY NEED, BUT IN THE EVENT THAT THEY CAN’T, THESE ARE SOME OF THE STEPS WE HAVE TO STEP THROUGH. DEP. DIR. REISETTER: I THINK THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD IS THAT IS WHY THE MITIGATION EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY RECOMMENDING ALL ALONE CONTINUE TO BE SO IMPORTANT, TO STAY HOME WHEN YOU CAN, SOCIAL DISTANCE WHEN YOU ARE OUT, BECAUSE WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, WHO ARE ON THE FRONT LINES, DOING THIS EVERY DAY. WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN AS A STATE TO PROCURE ADDITIONAL PPE, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SEND THOSE SUPPLIES OUT TO PEOPLE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE ARE SCARED, AND SO WE CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO FIND SUPPLY. WHEREVER WE CAN, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DISTRIBUTE THAT TO THE AREAS OF HIGHEST NEED, BUT WE REALLY FELT LIKE NOW IS THE TIME TO ISSUE THIS SHORTAGE ORDER. WE THINK THAT PEOPLE -- WE KNOW THAT FACILITIES ARE ALREADY DOING SOME OF THE EXTENDED USE GUIDELINES, BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A SHORTAGE, AND SO THIS WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE THIS ADDITIONAL STEP TODAY. >> ARE THE REQUIREMENTS MORE DIFFICULT, TO GET A NEW SUPPLIES OF PPE, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE NATIONAL STOCKPILE IS DOWN TO NOTHING? GOV. REYNOLDS: I, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN IT ALL ALONG. WE WERE RECEIVING SOME ORDERS, BUT AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE THEM PUSH BACK, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO REACH WITHIN THE STATE TO SEE WHAT ELSE WE COULD DO TO HELP TO PROVIDE OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND THOSE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT PPE THAT THEY NEED. JUST FOR EXAMPLE, I MEAN, SO LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, I TALK ABOUT THAT A LOT, BUT TODAY, THEY MADE 2800 DOWNS, AND THEY ARE DOUBLING THEIR PRODUCTION RATE, AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO 1000 AND EIGHT. AND THIS IS CRITICAL FOR OUR -- 1000 A DAY. AND THIS IS CRITICAL FOR OUR HEALTH PROVIDERS, BECAUSE THEY ARE WASHABLE. WE HAVE MORE AND MORE THAT ARE BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THE FACE SHIELDS. IF I AM SAYING ANYTHING I SHOULD NOT, YOU STEP RIGHT IN. WHEN THEY HAVE THE FACE SHIELD WITH THE HOMEMADE MASKS, THEN WE CAN START TO USE SOME OF THEM, AND THEY ARE WASHABLE. AND THEN THERE’S BUSINESSES IN OTHER STATES WHERE THEY ACTUALLY CAN TAKE THE USED N95 MASK AND CLEANED THEM AND BRING THEM BACK, TOO, SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL THE TIME TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS WHAT WE KNOW IS NOT ONLY IN IOWA SHORTAGE BUT A NATIONAL SHORTAGE. WHILE WE ARE SO IMPRESSED WITH HOW PEOPLE HAVE STEPPED UP TO HELP AND BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS, IT IS JUST A CONSTANT, YOU KNOW, CONSTANT EFFORT. HOSPITALS ARE ORDERING THROUGH THEIR DISTRIBUTORS, SO THEY ARE ORDERING INDEPENDENTLY. HOMELAND SECURITY IS ORDERING, LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE GATHERING INFORMATION AND PUTTING ORDERS IN, SO WE CONTINUE TO SAY OVER AND OVER, IT IS ON ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERY AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING PPE INTO THIS STATE. ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT? OK. >> YOU MENTIONED UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING. YOU HAVE ALSO SAID YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IOWANS’ MENTAL HEALTH. IS THERE ANY WAY TO MEASURE WHETHER IOWANS ARE HAVING ISSUES MORE THAN THEY WERE BEFORE? WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THAT? AND FINALLY, LOOKING FORWARD, IF THE LEGISLATURE IS UNABLE TO COME BACK AND APPROVE MORE MONEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH, WHAT IS YOUR FALLBACK PLAN? GOV. REYNOLDS: WELL, WE KNOW THAT -- ACTUALLY, I AM GOING TO HAVE DIRECTOR GARCIA COME NEXT WEEK, AND WE WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS. I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO READ THROUGH ALL F THE SPIRIT IOWA STATE THAT A WHITE PAPER THAT ADDRESSES SOME OF THE CONCERNS, THAT ISOLATION AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS HAVING ON ISLANDS -- ON IOWANS, JUST TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE NUMBERS, JUST TO TALK ABOUT THE MENTAL WELL-BEING OF IOWANS, THE ISOLATION, DOMESTIC ABUSE IS SOMETHING WE ARE WATCHING VERY CLOSELY, THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE EYES ON THEM LIKE THEY TYPICALLY DO WHEN THEY ARE IN SCHOOL, SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO BALANCE, TOO, THROUGH ALL OF THIS AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MEET THOSE NEEDS AS WELL. NEXT WEEK, WE WILL HAVE SOME MORE DATA AND MORE RESOURCES AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE ARE PROACTIVELY DOING THE BEST JOB THAT WE CAN TO ADDRESS THOSE EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY CRITICAL ISSUES AS WELL. THERE IS A COMMITMENT FROM THIS LEGISLATURE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE FUNDING THERE. THEY HAVE UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED ADULT MENTAL HEALTH REFORM, UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED THE CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH REFORM, AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO BE ABLE TO FUND THE SERVICES THAT WE PUT TOGETHER, SO WHEN I TALK TO BOTH PARTIES, BEFORE WE SUSPENDED THE LEGISLATURE, THERE WAS A COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT SOMETHING DONE THERE, AND SO WE WILL HAVE TO DO IT IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER, BUT THERE IS A COMMITMENT THERE, I BELIEVE, TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE FUNDING FOR THE RESOURCES. BECAUSE, TO YOUR POINT, IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE, YOU KNOW, AN UPTICK THERE, AND MAYBE THROUGH SOME OF THE BLOCK GRANT AND FUNDING AND THE DISASTER DECLARATION, WE ALSO ASKED SOME FUNDING THROUGH THAT, TOO, WHEN THEY GET THE INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE. AGAIN, WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERY POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO BE READY AND TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE VERY CRITICAL ISSUES AS WELL. >> GOVERNOR, DO YOU HAVE THE RATINGS YET FOR THE REGIONS? HAVE THOSE BEEN UPDATED AT ALL? GOV. REYNOLDS: YEAH. STEVE: -- DEP. DIR. REISETTER: I DO NOT THINK THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE SINCE YESTERDAY. REGION 5 IS AT A 9, REGION 6 IS AT AN 8, REGION 2 IS AT A 7, REGION 1 IS AT AN 8, REGION 3 IS AT A 6, AND REGION 4 IS THAT A 6. >> YESTERDAY, WE GOT A LOT OF EMAILS AND CALLS -- WHAT DO THEY BASE THAT OPTIMISM ON CONSIDERING THEY ARE STILL GETTING AN UPDATE ON ALL OF THE ADMISSIONS AND GUESTS AND NUMBERS? IS THERE A WAY TO DESCRIBE THAT AND HOW YOU COME UP WITH THAT? DEP. DIR. REISETTER: YEAH, SO THE CURVE HELP US -- HELPS US ORGANIZE, WHICH IS PART OF THE WAY WE ORGANIZE IF YOU DEEM ILLOGICAL INFORMATION -- ORGANIZE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INFORMATION. IT GIVES US INSIGHT TO THE TIME, TREND OF THE OUTBREAK, THE DISTRIBUTION OF CASES OVER TIME, OUTLIERS OR CASES THAT STAND APART FROM THE OVERALL PATTERN, THE GENERAL SENSE OF THE OUTBREAK’S MAGNITUDE, AND INFLUENCES ABOUT THE OUTBREAK’S PATTERN OF SPREAD, THE MOST LIKELY TIME OF EXPOSURE. WHAT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT IS LOOKING AT THE ONSET OF SYMPTOMS DATA. SO A WHILE, YOU KNOW, THE POSITIVE CASE RESULTS -- AND WE HAVE SAID ALL ALONG THAT WE ANTICIPATED LAST WEEK WOULD BE A DIFFICULT WEEK IN TERMS OF CASES. AGAIN, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS WEEK, WE SAID WE FULLY EXPECTED THE PR CASE NUMBER TO START TO CLIMB, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ONSET OF SYMPTOMS DATA, THAT APPEARS TO B FLATTENING, AND THAT IS REALLY THE WHOLE GOAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MITIGATION EFFORTS, IS TO SEE A FLATTENING, SO THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A FLAT PLATEAU OF ILLNESS AND INFECTION, AND THE IDEAL GOAL WOULD BE TO AVOID EVER REALLY SEEING A PEAK AND A SPIKE IN CASES. SO THAT IS WHAT I WAS REP REFERENCING -- WAS REFERENCING, THAT CURVE OF SYMPTOMS, AND THE CURVE SEEMS TO BE REALLY FLAT, WHICH IS WHITE IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO CONTINUE TO DO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING, AND WE KNOW IT IS HARD, AND WE KNOW WE ARE ASKING A LOT, BUT WE NEED PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO STAY AT HOME, LEAVE ONLY FOR ESSENTIALS. IF YOU ARE MILDLY ILL, STAY HOME. CALL AHEAD TO YOUR DOCTOR’S OFFICE FIRST. IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE INFECTION IN OUR STATE, UNTIL WE HAVE A VACCINE OR WE HAVE SOME WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO GET IT, THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO PASS IT TO EACH OTHER, ALL OF THESE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICATION EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE ASKED -- PUBLIC HEALTH MITIGATION EFFORTS WE HAVE ASKED PEOPLE TO DO, THEY ARE IMPORTANT, AND WE HAVE SEEN EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE STARTING TO WORK, SO WE RENEW OUR PLEA TO IOWANS TO KEEP DOING ALL OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS IN THE HARD THINGS YOU HAVE BEEN DOING, SO THAT WE CAN PROVE THAT -- CAN PROTECT OUR LOVED ONES. THANK YOU. >> A REQUEST FOR A QUICK UPDATE FOR COVID CASES AMONG THE ENCARTA RATE POPULATION. I DON’T KNOW IF YOU HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT? GOV. REYNOLDS: I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY AT THIS TIME, BUT THEY WERE REALLY PROACTIVE IN PUTTING IN PLACE A LOT OF THE SAME NEGATION EFFORTS THAT OUR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES DID, BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT IT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC. I AM ALSO GOING TO HAVE DIRECTOR SKINNER COME NEXT WEEK AND BE PART OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE, NOT ONLY WITH THE PP SUPPLIES THAT THEY ARE MAKING FOR OUR HOSPITALS, LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, BUT SHE COULD TALK ABOUT THE EFFORT SHE PUT IN PLACE TO REALLY HELP US GET IN FRONT OF THAT. >> GO AHEAD. >> YES, JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU ARE SAYING THE CURVE IS FLATTENING, BUT TODAY’S ORDER MEAN THAT YOU EXPECT A SURGE THAT IS GOING TO CREATE A SHORTAGE PROBLEM THAT WILL ATTACK OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, THAT OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING ACROSS THE COUNTRY? AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THE PPA SHORTAGE WILL EXIST IN IOWA? DEP. DIR. REISETTER: TODAY’S ORDER IS NOT A REFLECTION OF THE INCREASE CASE IS INFLECTION -- IN INFECTIONS, IT IS AN ABOLISHMENT THAT PP SUPPLIES ARE LOW GLOBALLY, AS WELL AS IN THE UNITED STATES, SO THE ORDER GIVES GUIDANCE AND DIRECTIVES TO HEALTH-CARE PROVIDERS TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY CANNOT GET THE PPE THAT THEY WOULD NORMALLY USED TO PROVIDE THE STANDARD OF CARE THAT THEY NORMALLY PROVIDE, AND SO IT GIVES THEM INSTRUCTIONS FOR WHAT THEY DO IN THE EVENT THAT THEY CANNOT GET PPE. YOU KNOW, PPE IS USED FOR A WHOLE BUNCH OF MEDICAL PROCEDURES. IT IS USED ALL THE TIME, FOR ELECTIVE PROCEDURES, YOU KNOW, LOTS OF PATIENT ENCOUNTERS UTILIZED PPE, AND SO IT IS NOT A REFLECTION OF AN ANTICIPATED PEAK OR SPIKE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IT IS A REFLECTION OF THE FACT THAT SUPPLIES ARE LOW, ADDITIONAL PPE IS HARD TO FIND, SO I GIVES HEALTH CARE PROVIDER’S INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT WHAT TO DO IF THEY CANNOT FIND THE PPE THAT THEY NEED. IT DOES NOT MEAN THE STATE IS GOING TO SLOW DOWN OUR EFFORTS OR MANUFACTURING OR ANYTHING. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET PPE TO OUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE THEM SOME INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT THAT THEY CANNOT GET THE SUPPLIES THAT THEY NEED, AS WELL AS SOME IMMUNITY PROTECTIONS WHEN THEY CARE FOR PATIENTS, IF THEY DO GET TO THAT POINT. >> GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOVERNOR, WITH THE TESTING BECOMING MORE AVAILABLE AT THE STATE HYGIENIC LAB AND WITH BOTH PROVIDERS STILL USING THAT FRAMEWORK, DOES THE IDPH ANTICIPATE EXPANDING THAT FRAMEWORK, SO DIFFERENT PEOPLE, MORE PEOPLE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE COVID-19 TESTS? GOV. REYNOLDS: THEY HAVE. DEP. DIR. REISETTER: YEAH, THANK YOU, THE ANSWER TO THAT IS YES, AS ADDITIONAL TESTS AND SUPPLIES COME ONLINE COME OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS CONTINUED TO BROADEN THE SCOPE OF PEOPLE THAT CAN RECEIVE TESTING. AS A REMINDER, THOUGH, CLINICIANS HAVE ACCESS TO NATIONAL REFERENCE LABORATORIES AS WELL, AND THEY CAN ALWAYS USE THEIR CLINICAL DISCRETION TO ORDER A TEST FOR PATIENTS, IF THEY WANT TO DO THAT. BUT YES, AS ADDITIONAL TESTS BECOME AVAILABLE AT THE STATE HYGIENIC LAB, WE DO AND TEND TO BROADEN THE CATEGORIES --WE DO INTEND TO BROADEN THE CATEGORIES. GOV. REYNOLDS: AND WE ARE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OF TESTING CAPACITIES, WITH HOSPITALS, THROUGH CLINICIANS, THE OTHER LABS, SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS INCREASE DAILY. >> IOWA PUBLIC RADIO, GO AHEAD. >> HEY, I JUST KIND OF WANT TO BUILD UP THE QUESTION TO SAY IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO CHANGE TESTING GUIDELINES TO INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, TESTING PEOPLE, HEALTH-CARE CARE WORKERS, AND PEOPLE AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES WHO DON’T HAVE SYMPTOMS, WHICH CURRENTLY IS NOT A RULE. GOV. REYNOLDS: DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT ONE? DEP. DIR. REISETTER: I THINK THAT WHAT WE WOULD LOOK AT HIS ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE TESTING FOR PEOPLE, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, IN A LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY, WHERE YOU HAVE CONGREGATE LIVING SPACES AND WHERE THERE IS A CONCERN THAT, SHOULD THE VIRUS GET INTRODUCED INTO THOSE SPACES, THAT IT WOULD SPREAD QUICKLY. I THINK, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THINKING ABOUT LONG-TERM CARE, WHICH ALWAYS HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR CONCERNS, WE WOULD CERTAINLY CONSIDER THAT. IN TERMS OF TESTING A SYSTEMATIC PEOPLE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALL HAVE TO REMEMBER -- TESTING A SYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A TEST TODAY DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL HAVE A TEST TOMORROW FOR THAT IS WHY THE MEDICATIONS WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO FOLLOW ARE SO IMPORTANT, BUT I WOULD REALLY PREFER TO DR. PEDATI ABOUT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF THE GOAL FOR EXPANSION, BUT CERTAINLY WE WOULD BE FOCUSED ON LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES AND OTHER CONGREGATE LIVING TYPE SITUATIONS. >> CAROLYN CUMMINGS, GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING, GOVERNOR. SARAH, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR YOU. HOW CAN THE STATE CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT THE CURVE IS FLATTENING ? I KNOW Y ME IN YOUR OFFICE A LITTLE BIT YESTERDAY ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR, BUT -- CERTAINLY CASES THAT ARE GOING UNDETECTED, HOW CAN WE REALLY SAY THAT THINGS ARE TAKING A TURN FOR THE BETTER? DEP. DIR. REISETTER: THANK YOU, CAROLINE. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR ONSET OF SYMPTOMS DATA, THE CURVE LOOKS LIKE THIS, AND THEN IT STARTS TO PLATEAU, SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR INSTEAD OF AN ONSET OF SYMPTOMS THAT CONTINUES TO CLIMB, CONTINUES TO CLIMB, CONTINUES TO CLIMB. I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT ABOUT TESTING, AND HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE NOT TESTING EVERYBODY? THAT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE NOT ONLY IN IOWA BUT IN OTHER STATES AS WELL. WHAT I AM CONVEYING IS THAT WE HAVE NOT CONTINUED TO SEE, DESPITE OUR LIMITED TESTING, WE HAVE NOT CONTINUED TO CSEE A TICK UP IN TERMS OF THE ONSET OF SYMPTOMS. THAT CURVE IS APPEARING TO BE FLAT. AS WE DO GET INCREASE TO TESTING, WE MIGHT SEE MORE CASES, AND I THINK THAT IS THE POINT THAT HAS BEEN MADE, AND WE HAVE ANTICIPATED ALL ALONG THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE MORE CASES THIS WEEK, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT ONSET OF SYMPTOMS, THE CURVE IS KIND OF PLATEAUING, AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE WOULD BE WILLING TO SHARE, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. AND I THINK THAT I ANSWERED THE QUESTION. OK. GOV. REYNOLDS: AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT MAYBE NEXT WEEK. WE ARE HOPING TO PROVIDE THAT FOR THE PUBLIC. WE WANT TO TRY TO BE AS TRANSPARENT, SO YOU CAN LOOK AT WHAT THEY ARE MEASURING, SO WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT AVAILABLE NEXT WEEK WITH THE OTHER RMCC INFORMATION THAT WE ARE TRACKING. >> WE HAVE TWO MORE QUESTIONS. JASON OF "THE REGISTER." JASON: GOOD MORNING, GOVERNOR. SOME STATES, FOR EXAMPLE, MINNESOTA, IS PUBLISHING THE NAMES OF SINGLE CARE FACILITIES WITH EVEN A SINGLE CORONAVIRUS CASE. THE ENHANCED VULNERABILITY OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND BE LIMITED TESTING THAT IS AVAILABLE, HAVE YOU CONSIDERED ADOPTING MINNESOTA’S MORE STRINGENT REPORTING METHOD? I GUESS THE REAL QUESTION IS -- WHY WAIT UNTIL THERE IS AN OUTBREAK OF THREE OR MORE CASES AT A SINGLE CARE FACILITY BEFORE ALERTING THE PUBLIC? GOV. REYNOLDS: DO YOU WANT TO -- DEP. DIR. REISETTER: YEP. HI, JASON. SO, UM, AN OUTBREAK -- WE CONSIDER AN OUTBREAK TO BE AN INCREASE ABOVE BASELINE, SO AS WE HAVE SEEN WITH COVID-19, CASES CAN BE ASSOCIATED WITH A VARIETY OF RISK FACTORS, INCLUDING THINGS LIKE TRAVEL OR CONTACT WITH A KNOWN CASE OR COMMUNITY SPREAD. USING THREE CASES AMONG RESIDENTS ALLOWS US TO BE CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE CONFIRMED THAT IF THE OUTBREAK IS ASSOCIATED WITH A FACILITY RATHER THAN DETECTING CASES ASSOCIATED WITH ANOTHER POTENTIAL RISK FACTOR OR SOURCE. >> ALL RIGHT, DAVE PRICE, LAST QUESTION. DAVE: GOOD MORNING, GOVERNOR. GOVERNOR, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL PPE SHORTAGE, WE HAVE BEEN GETTING EMAILS FROM VIEWERS THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS SAYING THAT THEIR BUSINESSES ARE STILL OPEN, THEY HAVE TO GO TO WORK, AND PARTICULARLY THE ONES WITH SOME KIND OF UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITION, AND THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PROPER PPE PROTECTION, IN THEIR MINDS, SO WHAT ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO DO? AND THEN SECONDARILY, IF YOU HAVE ONLY RECENTLY MANDATED THAT HOSPITALS PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT WITH THIS NECESSARY HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON, AND YOU HAVE BEEN FORECASTING BASED ON INCOMPLETE INFORMATION, THEN DOESN’T THAT, POTENTIALLY, GIVE A MISGUIDED OR AN IN ACCURATE -- AN AN ACCURATE PORTRAYAL OF WHAT IS GOING ON? GOV. REYNOLDS: NO. I WILL LET SARAH TAKE THAT LAST QUESTION, BUT THEY HAVE ISSUED GUIDANCE ALL ALONG. THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SINCE DAY ONE AND TRYING TO WORK WITH OUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE STATE. THIS IS THE ONE TIME I DON’T HAVE THAT 800 NUMBER WRITTEN ON THE PIECE OF PAPER IN FRONT OF ME, SO WE WILL MAKE SURE, BUT IF YOU GO TO CORONAVIRUS.IOWA.GOV, I AM SURE THAT THAT 800-NUMBER WILL BE THERE FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE QUESTIONS. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A TEAM THAT IS SET UP AND VOLUNTEERED TO BE A RESOURCE FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE THOSE CONCERNS, SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYBODY THAT HAS RAISED THAT WITH YOU, THEN PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION FOR THEM OR HELP US ELEVATE THAT SO THAT THEY CAN GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. DEP. DIR. REISETTER: DAVE, IN TERMS OF YOUR QUESTION ABOUT GUIDANCE FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO CONTINUE TO GO TO WORK, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ISSUED GUIDANCE FOR BUSINESSES, AND WE HAVE GIVEN RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT SCREENING WORKFORCE BEFORE THEY REPORT TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THEY DO NOT HAVE A FEVER, THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER SYMPTOMS, AND RECOMMENDING EXCLUSION OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS FROM THE WORKPLACE. WE HAVE ALSO RECOMMENDED STAGGERING SHIPS IF POSSIBLE, TRYING TO IMPLEMENT SOCIAL DISTANCING WITHIN THEIR WORK ENVIRONMENT TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, AND WHEN PEOPLE CANNOT DO THAT, THOSE WILL BE THE TIMES IN WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES MIGHT CONSIDER WEARING A MASK AT WORK. NOW, THE PPE SHORTAGE IS REAL, AS I SAID, SO BUSINESSES MIGHT HAVE A HARD TIME OBTAINING PPE SUPPLIES FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES, AND THOSE WILL BE THERE IN SITUATIONS WHERE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CONCERNED MY CONSIDER WEARING A HOMEMADE MASK IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT.