Iowa schools staying open for now, governor says

JOHNSTON — Iowa's K-12 public schools will not be closed by the state due to coronavirus concerns — not yet, at least.

Gov. Kim Reynolds said at a Friday news conference her administration does not at this point feel compelled to close public schools or urge Iowans to avoid large group gatherings.

Officials announced the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Iowa had grown Friday to 17.

Reynolds said the newest case, for an individual in western Iowa's Harrison County, was travel-related though not traced to an Egyptian cruise where 15 Iowans became ill wit the virus.

Two of the individuals are hospitalized, the governor's spokesman said. There have been no deaths in Iowa linked to the coronavirus.

Three of Iowa's neighbors — Wisconsin, Illinois and South Dakota — announced Friday they are closing their K-12 public schools due to concerns the virus could spread through halls and classrooms.

'We want to make sure that we're protecting the health and well-being of Iowans, but we also want to make sure that we're doing what we can to be responsive and mitigating our approach, and that we're keeping business and normal activity going as much as possible,' Reynolds said.

Dr. Caitlin Pedati, an epidemiologist and medical director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, said the department is not now recommending schools be closed or large gatherings be canceled because the documented cases in the state have been linked to travel — not community spread.

If the virus spreads in a way that Iowans become infected without knowing how, that calculation may change, Reynolds and Pedati said.

'We do look very closely for disease activity in the community as a way to help us make a thoughtful and well-planned decision because we know that when we ask people to do things like stay at home and not go to work or not go to school, we know those aren't small things to ask of people,' Pedati said.

'So we really want to be thoughtful and make sure that we're using the right indicators to make those recommendations.'

Reynolds said she is 'confident' the state is well-equipped to test Iowans who may have contracted the coronavirus.

Pedati said the state hygienic lab has roughly 850 coronavirus test kits.

'I feel that we're confident with the testing that we have right now,' Reynolds said. 'And from every indication that we've received from the (presidential) administration, as we bring on the private sector, those numbers (of available tests) are going to continue to increase. We'll continue to monitor it. But right now we are OK.'

Reynolds also announced the 10 Iowans who have been quarantined on the Grand Princess cruise ship in California were returning home Friday evening. She said the state is working to bring home the remaining Iowans who were aboard.

More than 20 of the 3,500 passengers and crew aboard the Grand Princess have tested positive for coronavirus, but none of the Iowans have shown any symptoms.

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