Gazette Daily News Podcast, April 17

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We're almost out of the strangely cold woods. Almost. Friday morning will mark the second day this week you have woken up to snow on the ground, as more than an inch of snow fell overnight in the Cedar Rapids area according to the National Weather Service. Still, the low temperature will be just below freezing, and the cloudy sky should begin to clear in the late morning. The temperature will rise to a high of 49 degrees, Friday, and the snow melting will be a prelude to much more pleasant weather this weekend.Residents of 14 Northeast Iowa counties, including Linn County, are under enhanced restrictions starting Friday, covering movement and gatherings in an effort to slow the accelerating COVID-19 spread that has hit long-term care facilities and meatpacking operations there particularly hard.

Gov. Kim Reynolds said Thursday the extra precautions were triggered by a state Department of Public Health analysis of data that showed there was a spike in coronavirus activity in the region. The 13 other counties include Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Grundy, Howard, Jones, and Winneshiek. 

The new proclamation declared that  'all gatherings for social, community, recreational, leisure or sporting activities will cease through April 30. You may gather only with members of your immediate households. Limited exceptions will be made for weddings, funerals and other religious gatherings, which will continue to be restricted to 10 people or less.'

The rest of Iowa will be exempt from such enhanced restrictions so far, although southeast and southcentral Iowa are drawing closer to also qualifying for them, based on state metrics.

Iowa's death total jumped by 7 up to 60 on Thursday, with total positive cases of the virus in the state creeping up to 2,141. Roughly half of the state's deaths so far have originated in senior care facilities.

In a radio interview later Thursday, Reynolds said she is looking at May for starting to reopen Iowa's economy. President Donald Trump disclosed some basic guidelines Thursday that the White House is suggesting states follow to resume something resembling regular operations for their businesses. And Reynolds mentioned she considers the White House a partner in this effort.

The governor has so far declined to share details of her plan to gradually bring businesses back online after many were closed to promote social distancing and stop the spread of the coronavirus. However, she indicated Thursday that testing, contact tracing and prevention will be critical elements in any efforts she does announce.

This briefing is sponsored in part by Corridor Careers.  Are you looking for a job? CorridorCareers.com is a resource to local job seekers where they can get job tips, sign up for local job alerts, build a resume and more. Check it out at CorridorCareers.com.