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Reynolds: New case brings total to 17 presumptive positive COVID-19 cases Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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to tell us what these folks have been through. (áááLIVEááá) (áááMAXááá) Stacey -- we are here at the airport -- waiting for those 10 Iowans to arrive. 22 Iowans in total -- were quarantined on the Grand Princess Cruise Ship off the coast of Oakland, California, this week. You're looking at video of the cruise ship. The Governor says they are working to get the rest home, as well. We did hear from a Winterset couple -- who was on the cruise ship. They are now under quarantine, at an air force base in Texas. Sheryl Sirdoreus says she and her husband are waiting to hear from the Governor -- on when they can come home. (áááLIVEááá) (áááMAXááá) The governor made several other announcements today in her news conference -- at Camp Dodge. The headline is that there are now 17 cases of COVID- 19. She also announced she's now postponing state travel for state employees. The governor added that 22 cases tested in state labs Friday for the virus -- came back negative. The governor said -- she does expect things to get worse here in Iowa. <"ALL 17 POSITIVE CASES ARE TRAVEL RELATED AND 15 ARE DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE SAME EGYUPTIAN CRUISE. AT THIS TIME IOWA IS NOT EXPERIENCING COMMUNITY SPREAD OF THE VIRUS, HOWEVER, WE ANTICIPATE IT WILL HAPPEN AND NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE"> (áááLIVEááá) (áááMAXááá) Again -- we are still waiting for those 10 Iowans quarantened in California -- to arrive They'll be met by the national gaurd... and will not be going through the terminal. LIVE in Des Moines... md, k8n, inl. (áááSTACEYááá) West Des Moines retirement services company Athene is taking precautions- after an employee may have been exposed to someone with coronavirus. Athene told KCCI it asked employees who work in the same facility to work from home today... so it can further limit exposure and disinfect the building. The company wants to emphasize again - that NO employees are currently sick and that they are just taking precautionary measures. (áááSTACEYááá) As more cases develop in Iowa -- The mayor of Des Moines is asking anyone planning to attend large events -- to put their health first. KCCI's Kayla James is live with the mayor's request. (áááLIVEááá) (áááKAYLAááá) Stacey, By no means is there a mayoral proclamation -- but Mayor Frank Cownie is hoping people will reconsider going to or hosting events with large gatherings. He says it will help limit the risk of exposure, while he and city leaders figure out what to do next. (áááPKGááá) (Mayor Frank Cownie; 2098; 9:37- 9:40) <"WE'RE PROACTIVE. WE'RE TRYING TO STAY AHEAD OF THIS THING."> This thing - meaning the coronavirus. Mayor Frank Cownie says while he currently doesn't know if he has the authority to stop events from happening - The City is looking into ways to limit exposure both indoors and outdoors. (Mayor Frank Cownie; 2098; 2:49- 2:57) <"WE'RE STARTING TO LOOK AT HOW WE'RE GOING TO HANDLE OUR BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETINGS...WHICH ONES ARE ESSENTIAL AND WHICH ONES CAN WE PUT OFF."> Many popular spots throughout the city are already taking precautions. The Des Moines Public Library is the most recent to make a move -- Cancelling all events and programs from now until March 31st. <NAT: PARADE> What's not being cancelled -- is the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. Organizers put out the message on their Facebook Page Thursday night, Saying "There isn't a single case of the virus in the surrounding counties. If you feel endangered stay away." There are other events however -- <NAT (2102; 14:56- 14:58): "A NUMBER OF PEOPLE CALLED AND SAID ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE THE FISH FRY.""> That will not be moving forward: leaving St. Anthony Catholic Church's Parish Hall empty-- Instead of full for their fish fry and Saturday night bingo. <(FRANK CHIODO, MONSIGNOR/ST. ANTHONY CATHOLIC CHURCH)> (2102; 15:20- 15:25) <"IN THE SPIRIT OF PRUDENCE, WE WILL JUST CANCEL THAT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE."> Monsignor Frank Chiodo says services will continue as normal -- even adding a special mass next Saturday morning -- focusing on the coronavirus. <(FRANK CHIODO)> (2102; 18:42- 18:50) <"THIS WILL BE IN PARTICULAR A MORE FOCUSED ATTENTION ON THE ISSUE OF THE CORONAVIRUS, DELIVERENCE FROM IT, PROTECTION."> (áááLIVEááá) (áááKAYLAááá) Mayor Cownie tells us he's spoken with several mayors of major cities -- like Seattle, New York, and LA -- to see what they're doing in case of a local outbreak here in the city. Live in Des Moines, Kayla James, KCCi 8 News, Iowa's News Leader. (áááSTACEYááá) Starting tonight, the Des Moines Public School district cancelled all programs until March 30th. Superintendent Tom Ahart says that will give the district time to deep-clean every district building. It'll also buy them time to see how coronavirus progresses through the state. Because of the schedule, the district only had to cancel 2 scheduled days of class. (áááSTACEYááá) Here are the actions governors from neighboring states are taking with their schools. Wisconsin schools will close starting next Wednesday, and could reopen April 6th. Illinois schools will close statewide for nearly two weeks starting Tuesday. South Dakota's governor has requested schools start closing next week. In Nebraska, the governor says he might order schools closed for 6 to 8 weeks