Gazette Daily News Podcast, April 27

Today could see some rain with a chance of thunderstorms in the morning, but this afternoon the sun should peek through the clouds and the temperature will be around 73. Tonight's low is 52.

A couple days of rain, then the sun should come out for the rest of the week as temperatures climb into the 70s over the weekend.

Coronavirus numbers

Saturday saw a record high for new coronavirus cases as testing continues to expand, and yesterday added another 384 cases. Bringing the total for Iowa to 5,476 positive tests in 85 of Iowa's 99 counties with 118 coronavirus deaths.

Despite the spike in cases, Governor Kim Reynolds' shut down orders are set to expire on Thursday, and they aren't likely to be renewed in full. Almost half of all of Iowa's cases are in 4 Eastern or Central Iowa counties, and Reynolds says those hot spots aren't likely to be at the front end of her plan to open the state back up, but other counties will begin to see restrictions easing.

The key areas of change to start with are elective medical procedures will be opened back up, and farmers markets will be exempt from the state's crowd gathering restrictions.

Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown tested for COVID-19. Two residents — one Friday and one Saturday — tested positive and 70 tested negative, Commandant Timon Oujiri wrote in an email Saturday. Both have been transferred to the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Des Moines where there is an infectious disease team.

For all our coronavirus coverage, you can find our dedicated coronavirus page, TheGazette.com/coronavirus.

The NFL draft took place online this weekend, and 5 Hawkeyes are headed to the NFL.

In the first round, number 13 overall, Tristan Wirfs was picked by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the second round, at number 54 overall, A.J. Epenesa was picked by the Buffalo Bills. In round three, number 77 overall, Michael Ojemudia was picked by the Denver Broncos. In round seven, number 219 overall, Geno Stone was picked by the Baltimore Ravens. Also in round 7, pick 244 overall, Nate Stanley was picked by the Minnesota Vikings.

That's it for today's update. Be sure to subscribe to The Gazette Daily news podcast, or just tell your Amazon Alexa to 'enable The Gazette Daily News skill" so you can get your daily briefing by simply saying 'Alexa, what's the news?"