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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
PHOTOS: Coronavirus preparations and impact in Iowa
Mar. 18, 2020 3:06 pm, Updated: Mar. 21, 2020 9:46 pm
Hospitals and public health officials prepare for the spread of the virus as Eastern Iowans face closures of schools, churches, and businesses. For complete Gazette coverage, visit
Stephanie Silva (left) of Iowa City has her temperature taken by Lynn Rhinehart (right), a guest services staff member at a virus screening checkpoint outside the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City on Friday, March 13, 2020. Members of the public are asked whether they have been running a temperature, have a cough or have felt ill. They then have their temperature taken and receive a sticker letting staff know they have been screened. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
57-year-old Tim Yuengel of Cedar Rapids kisses his wife, Denise, while saying goodbye to her for the time being at the Fillmore Center in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, March 19, 2020. The two were staying together at the shelter run by Willis Dady Homeless Services but were separated as women were sent to a separate facility in an effort to better care for the area homeless population amidst concerns of the COVID-19 virus. Tim and Denise have been married for 14 years and had been staying together at the center for about a month. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Tim Yuengel of Cedar Rapids sits on a cot at the Fillmore Center in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Cots are kept at least three feet apart from one another and people are asked to sleep head to toe in an effort to keep them farther apart due to concerns of spreading the COVID-19 virus. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
The Old Capitol Museum is seen on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Nicholas Ehlinger (left) and Natalie Ehlinger of Maquoketa move Nicholas, a freshman, out of Burge Residence Hall during a scheduled move-out from the University of Iowa in Iowa City on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Students have been told to vacate their dorms and are required to sign up for two-hour time slots to remove their belongings. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Autumn Gable of New Hampton moves her belongings out of Burge Residence Hall during a scheduled move-out from the University of Iowa in Iowa City on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Students have been told to vacate their dorms and are required to sign up for two-hour time slots to remove their belongings. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
A man removes belongings from Daum Residence Hall during a scheduled move-out from the University of Iowa in Iowa City on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Students have been told to vacate their dorms and are required to sign up for two-hour time slots to remove their belongings. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Natalie Ehlinger of Maquoketa wears gloves as she moves her brother out of Burge Residence Hall during a scheduled move-out from the University of Iowa in Iowa City on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Students have been told to vacate their dorms and are required to sign up for two-hour time slots to remove their belongings. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
A man wearing a face mask crosses Dubuque Street with takeout food in hand in Iowa City on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Shawn Thacker of Iowa City is handed his order by Cortado owner Yochai Harel through the doorway at Cortado Coffee & Cafe in Iowa City on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. The coffee shop is now only offering delivery and pick-up at the front door. A sign on the door lists a phone number where customers can call in their orders. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Kim Lopez, emergency care unit nurse manager (right) talks with engineering project coordinator Christopher Vos (left) and Dr. Joshua Eastvold (center) inside their newly built external COVID-19 screening facility adjacent to the emergency entrance at Mercy Iowa City in Iowa City on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
A cart containing supplies for medical workers is seen in the temporary COVID-19 testing facility outside the emergency entrance at Mercy Iowa City in Iowa City on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
A temporary COVID-19 testing facility outside the emergency entrance is seen at Mercy Iowa City in Iowa City on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Students leave Xavier High School after collecting belongings at the school in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. The district is on spring break this week and allowed students to collect supplies for the period of school closures due to coronavirus. To adhere to social distancing guidelines, limited numbers of students entered at one time over a period of two hours. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)
Third Avenue SE is empty on St. Patrick's Day, Tuesday morning, March 17, 2020. The annual SaPaDaPaSo parade was canceled this year due to concerns of the coronavirus. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)
A mask lies on the ground on 18th Street Southeast in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Gov. Kim Reynolds this morning issued a state of public health disaster emergency. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
The Longbranch Restaurant and Event Center is seen in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. An entertainer who over the weekend tested positive for COVID-19 recently performed at the Longbranch. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Volunteers, including Laurie Quint (right), co-owner with husband Jeff Quint, fill bottles with hand cleanser at Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery in Swisher on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Steve Shriver and Ryan Sundermann, UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's Hospital Emergency Department medical director, partnered with Cedar Ridge to develop and produce a 65% hand cleanser using byproducts from the distilling process. The bottles will be given away for free. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)
Luxury travel expert Jane Schuyler smiles for a photo at her desk at Destinations Unlimited in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Unable to celebrate St. Patrick's day in a more traditional fashion, Schuyler decided to double down on her outfit during the work day. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Jason Wilkerson wipes down the door to Local Craft Ale House in Cedar Rapids after a customer came in on Monday, March 16, 2020. Owner Jason Wilkerson decided to go to curbside to-go orders and growler fills in an effort to prevent spread of the coronavirus, and only employees wearing gloves are to use the doors. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)
Staff members work in the Cedar Rapids Public Library on their first day closed to the public, on Monday, March 16, 2020. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)
Jeff Pomeranz, Cedar Rapids City Manager, delivers remarks during a press conference to address the COVID-19 virus with other Linn County officials at the Cedar Rapids Public Library in Cedar Rapids on Monday, March 16, 2020. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)
A sign in the lobby at Cottage Grove Place warns of limited access to the continuing care retirement community for everyone entering the facility in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Saturday, March 14, 2020. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Cottage Grove Place employee Hailey Klemme checks her temperature as she arrives for work in the office for the continuing care retirement community in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Saturday, March 14, 2020. The facility has implemented limited access for everyone entering the facility. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Michihiko Goto, an assistant professor of internal medicine specializing in infectious diseases is photographed at his home in Iowa City on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Dr. Goto recently returned from Japan with his family and they have been doing a self-imposed quarantine out of an abundance of caution admidst fears of spreading coronavirus. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Visitation pastor Pastor Mark Urlaub holds his arms, in an effort not to shake hands thus passing germs, as he greets congregants after worship serves at First Lutheran Church, 1000 Third Avenue SE, in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sunday, March 8, 2020. The church uses washable, glass cups to serve the Communion wine to worshipers as well as having only one server distribute the Communion wafers. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Pastoral Intern Kirsten Wee uses hand sanitizer before greeting congregants arriving for the 9am worship service at First Lutheran Church, 1000 Third Avenue SE, in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sunday, March 8, 2020. The church uses washable, glass cups to serve the Communion wine to worshipers as well as having only one server distribute the Communion wafers. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Congregants fold their arms as they greet each other during the passing of faith at First Lutheran Church, 1000 Third Avenue SE, in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sunday, March 8, 2020. The church uses washable, glass cups to serve the Communion wine to worshipers as well as having only one server distribute the Communion wafers. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Frozen meals are gathered together before being delivered to clients by Meals on Wheels drivers at Horizons: A Family Service Alliance in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, March 13, 2020. The service, which delivers meals to older adults and persons with disabilities, will deliver extra frozen meals to its clients because of possible effects of the coronavirus. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
From left: Gail Becker, Tracy Yordi and Tracey Supplee fill trays with food as employees and volunteers package meals in the Meals on Wheels kitchen at Horizons: A Family Service Alliance in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, March 13, 2020. The service, which delivers meals to older adults and persons with disabilities, will deliver extra frozen meals to its clients because of possible effects of the coronavirus. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
A bottle of hand sanitizer is seen before the 8am worship service at First Lutheran Church, 1000 Third Avenue SE, in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sunday, March 8, 2020. The church uses washable, glass cups to serve the Communion wine to worshipers as well as having only one server distribute the Communion wafers. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
The court is cleared after the cancellation of the Big Ten Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Thursday, March 12, 2020, as athletic conferences around the country canceled tournaments in response to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)
Andy Katz seeks more information as he prepares to go on air following the cancellation of the Big Ten Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Thursday, March 12, 2020. Athletic conferences around the country canceled tournaments in response to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)
Media, including Tom Marchitto of Maryland Sports Radio Network, wait for news after the court was cleared before the first game of the Big Ten Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Thursday, March 12, 2020. Athletic conferences around the country canceled tournaments in response to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)
North Linn head coach Mike Hilmer and his team watch the end of Wapsie Valley's 1A final win before their Class 2A state championship game at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday, March 13, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
North Linn's Dylan Kurt (23) runs for a loose ball as Boyden-Hull's Andrew Frick (3) tries to get it away from him during the second quarter of their Class 2A state championship game at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday, March 13, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Volunteer Kim Sherman hands a free four ounce container of hand cleanser to a resident at a drive-up tent at NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, March 21, 2020. Volunteers handed out free hand cleanser produced by Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery in Swisher and Eco Lips Inc. in Marion to meet the need driven by the COVID-19 crisis. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Two ounce bottles of hand cleanser are seen to be given out to drive-up guests at NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, March 21, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Volunteer Robert Hernandez directs cars to the NewBo City Market to get free hand cleanser in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, March 21, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Fong's Pizza cook Kaidyn Hamilton, dressed in a velociraptor costume, tries to bring in customers to order take-out from Fong's Pizza in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, March 21, 2020. The restaurant has a limited menu available on their Facebook and customers are encouraged to order online for delivery. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
General manager Liz Goodsman (center) walks Fong's Pizza cook Kaidyn Hamilton in his velociraptor suit up to the sidewalk to get the attention of customers in front of the restaurant in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, March 21, 2020. The restaurant has a limited menu available on their Facebook and customers are encouraged to order online for delivery. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
A man who wished not to be named rides his bike home after picking up food at the NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, March 21, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
A mask rests on a bike handlebar as a man eats his lunch before riding home from the NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, March 21, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Owner and general manager Phoebe Charles spears an orange peel and Luxardo cherry for a to-go Grandad's Old Fashioned order at Rodina in Cedar Rapids on Friday, March 20, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Owner and general manager Phoebe Charles walks out to the street to talk with a customer at Rodina in Cedar Rapids on Friday, March 20, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
A to-go box holds the ingredients for a Grandad's Old Fashioned cocktail at Rodina in Cedar Rapids on Friday, March 20, 2020. A new order from Gov. Reynolds allows class C license holders to sell unopened bottles of liquor to go off premises, along with unopened wine and beer. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
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