Where is our outrage, Iowans?

Wake up Iowa! Maybe we all became indifferent and numb due to all the bad and sad news - pandemic, racial strife, lack of moral authority and leadership. In our 'numbness,” 364 Iowa nursing home residents' deaths are directly related to COVID-19. That represents over half of the total documented COVID-19-deaths in Iowa. Where is the outrage?

It is time to insist our governor use all the resources of our state government to protect the lives and safety of our nursing home residents and the courageous people who care for the residents. I join with AARP-Iowa in asking the governor to engage the staffs of DHS, IDPH, IDA, Inspection and Appeals and other agencies to: mandate testing based on most recent CDC and CMS guidelines; test of all remaining residents and staff after one documented positive case; require all nursing home and other long-term care facility staff to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Let us show we care for our neighbors in nursing homes. You might be one of those residents soon!

Ro Foege

Cedar Rapids