Gazette Daily News Briefing, May 7

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Your Thursday weather forecast calls for clear skies in the morning and early afternoon with an increasing chance of rain as the day goes on. According to the National Weather Service, there should be a high of 67 degrees Thursday in the Cedar Rapids area. The weather should remain uneventful until after 5:00 p.m., when increasingly cloudy skies could herald the arrival of showers and wind gusts as high as 20 mph. Although rainfall is not expected to be significant, the chance of rain is listed at 70 percent.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds cancelled her daily coronavirus news conference, instead heading to Washington D.C. where she met with President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and others to discuss Iowa's response to the virus. During the meeting, Reynolds and White House officials discussed issues related to outbreaks at food processing plants in Iowa, according to news media pool reports.

It was also a victory lap of sorts for Reynolds, as Pence lauded Iowa as a 'success story' in the nation's battle against the virus. Earlier this week, despite increases in both deaths and individuals testing positive for the disease, Reynolds indicated that she feels that Iowa is in its recovery stage.

Reynolds supported this notion by further loosening social distancing restrictions by official proclamation Wednesday, with a mixture of approaches to the state's 22 most affected counties and the 77 less populated counties where some restrictions have already been lifted.

Among her statewide declarations, Reynolds said dentists and their staffs may resume providing services. Also reopening, with social distancing caveats, are public and private campgrounds, drive-in movie theaters, tanning facilities and medical spas. In the 22 more restricted counties, beginning this Friday, enclosed malls and retail stores may reopen provided they operate at no more than half capacity and observe social distancing. Fitness centers may reopen for appointments only.

12 people were reported to have died from COVID-19 on Wednesday. The amount of people testing positive for the disease were 10,404. 

Drive through coronavirus testing will come to Linn County on Thursday, as the fourth Test Iowa site in the state will open on the Kirkwood Community College campus. Testing requires an appointment be made in advance after filling out an assessment at testiowa.com

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.