Coronavirus in Iowa, live updates for April 16: Cedar Rapids closing Gardner Golf Course

Cedar Rapids closing Gardner Golf Course and disc golf courses

Due to the Public Health Emergency Proclamation for Linn County issued by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds Thursday, Cedar Rapids is closing Gardner Golf Course and disc golf courses within Cedar Rapids parks, effective Friday and through April 30.

Parks, trails and dog parks will remain open.

Trail-users on any trail system are encouraged to maintain distance between themselves and others by signaling your presence with your voice, bell, or horn, and stepping off the trail to allow others to pass. Trail users – as well as all residents – are asked to follow measures and recommendations already in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This includes:

Stay six feet apart from others.

Do not gather in groups beyond members of your own household.

Practice good personal hygiene – wash your hands regularly.

Be aware that park restrooms are currently closed and water is not turned on. Please bring hand sanitizer with you.

Carry out any trash that is brought into the parks.

lf you have been sick in the last two weeks or have a cough, fever or other flu like symptoms, stay home for the health and safety of yourself and others.

lndividuals 60 years of age and older, or those with underlying conditions, should stay at home to avoid potential exposures.

'We know that physical activity outdoors has a positive effect on our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, and we want to see our residents continue to enjoy the trail system while also keeping safety in mind,” says city Parks and Recreation Director Scott Hock.

Deere Waterloo operations contractor tests positive for COVID-19

From: Robert Connelly, qconline.com

WATERLOO - A contractor at John Deere Drivetrain Operations, who has been on self-quarantine since March 31, tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday.

Deere & Company was alerted to the potential case on March 31 and activated its response plan working with local health authorities, the Moline-based manufacturer said in a statement.

'This included identifying interaction this contractor may have had with employees and/or business partners and ensuring any areas of the factory where the contractor worked was thoroughly sanitized. We will continue to follow the guidelines of local and state health officials in determining the best course of action to continue to safeguard our employees,” Deere said.

Waterloo had a foundry worker who tested positive for the new coronavirus earlier this month and that worker had not been to work since March 20 before their test results came back.

No other known cases are known as of late Thursday morning at Deere facilities in Dubuque, Davenport, Moline and East Moline.

Deere was labeled a critical and essential business by the federal government, and continues to operate as COVID-19 affects daily life.

New webinar on state of arts and culture in Iowa City area

In a new webinar, Iowa City-area leaders in arts, culture and signature community events share short-term plans and longer-term COVID-19 considerations for venues and gathering spaces and the role it may have on our larger economy.

To watch, click here.

Indian Creek Spring Plant & Art Sale is online Friday

Indian Creek Nature Center has moved its annual Spring Plant & Art Sale to its website this year. Sales start Friday at noon and run through May 2.

Plants, vegetables, herbs, seedlings, seed packets and milkweed will be available, as will garden accessories, home decor and art, ICNC honey and maple syrup, and organically-raised eggs from Etzel Sugar Grove Farm.

Once orders are finalized on May 2, Nature Center officials will assign no-contact pick-up times for people to safely pick up their orders from the Nature Center.

Local artists do livestreams for charities, starting tonight

From Iowa Public Radio:

Cedar Rapids' White Sofa Records is curating a series of livestreams from area artists to raise money for charities No Kid Hungry and the CDC Foundation. The first stream is at 7 p.m. tonight with Cedar Rapids alt-rock band In the Attic.

There will be other livestreams Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and through mid-May. More information can be found at White Sofa's Facebook page.

No Kid Hungry and the CDC Foundation will benefit from the events.

The artists participating in this festival will be streaming from their personal accounts, and those looking to make a donation have the option between giving directly to No Kid Hungry or the CDC Foundation.