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ONGOING COVERAGE
Iowa sees 2,245 new coronavirus cases
The seven-day averages for positive COVID-19 cases continued to decline in Linn and Johnson counties, as well as in Iowa as a whole, since seeing a peak in mid-November, according to data recorded by the Iowa Department of Public Health and analyzed by The Gazette. ...
Iowa reports 39 more COVID-19 deaths Friday
Iowa reported Friday morning it had confirmed 39 more COVID-19 deaths in 25 counties, bringing the state's death toll so far to 2,351. ...
COVID home treatment program helps prevent hospitalizations at UI Hospitals and Clinics
IOWA CITY - While the health care system statewide grappled with a record number of coronavirus patients over the past several weeks, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics' 'virtual hospital' program has helped alleviate some of the pressure, officials say. ...
College Community considers limiting virtual learning options
CEDAR RAPIDS - Prairie Creek Elementary fifth-grader Nathan Soto has been learning virtually this semester during the coronavirus pandemic because his asthma could put him at a higher risk of developing complications if he contracted the virus. ...
White House task force urges Iowa to follow other states' lead on COVID-19
DES MOINES - The White House's task force on the nation's COVID-19 pandemic response is asking Iowa to take cues from other states that have enacted more aggressive mitigation strategies, which the task force says have helped slow the virus' spread. ...
Delayed jury trials due to COVID-19 likely to cause big backlog in Iowa
CEDAR RAPIDS - Criminal jury trials get bumped ahead routinely even in normal times - prosecutors and defense lawyers need more time to prepare, or file motions to take up legal issues or defendants switch lawyers - and it can create a backlog. ...
New software slows Iowa COVID-19 contact tracing
New contact tracing software Iowa implemented Nov. 5 - at the height of a statewide surge of COVID-19 cases - continues to cause problems, including crashes, lag time entering records and security issues that don't let local health departments use volunteers. ...
COVID-19 hospitalizations dip but remain high
Correction: There were 3,323 new individual cases reported in the 24-hour period ending 11 a.m. Thursday. A previous version of this article had an incorrect number that was lower. (Updated 2:15 p.m., Nov. 28, 2020) ...
Iowans observe tradition in untraditional ways for Thanksgiving 2020
In a more normal year, Kristy Staker and her husband would gather with extended family - her husband's five siblings and their families, about 35 people in all. ...
More campers during COVID-19 brings more money for Iowa DNR
Short on vacation options because of COVID-19, Iowans flocked to state park campgrounds last summer and boosted camping revenue by 33 percent over the same period in 2019. ...
How Cedar Rapids area stores are handling Black Friday shopping (plus store hours)
CEDAR RAPIDS - Black Friday, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season, will look very different this year as retailers and shoppers adjust to rising COVID-19 infections. ...
More University of Iowa Greek chapters disciplined for breaking COVID rules
IOWA CITY - As this pandemic-plagued semester wraps, a handful of University of Iowa fraternities and sororities are completing sanctions leveled for violating a COVID-19 student agreement and rules that muted the Greek-life experience. ...
Iowa coronavirus deaths soar to record 47 in 24-hour period
Iowa reported more COVID-19 deaths between 11 a.m. Tuesday and 11 a.m. Wednesday than it has during any 24-hour period since the start of the pandemic. ...
Can I get COVID from double-dipping a chip? UI expert answers holiday questions
IOWA CITY - With Iowa's COVID-19 hospitalizations up again Tuesday - and its ventilated patients jumping by 20 overnight, setting a record at 155 - University of Iowa Health Care leaders are reporting strained resources and asking again for help. ...
For elementary students, extended virtual learning for Cedar Rapids schools has extra challenges
CEDAR RAPIDS - First-grade teacher Robin Nelson at Garfield Elementary School spends part of her day reminding students to mute and unmute their microphones, raise their hands and take turns speaking as she navigates how best to teach and engage students in virtual school. ...
Iowa Supreme Court encourages more remote proceedings
DES MOINES - The Iowa Supreme Court, in its effort to reduce the spread of the coronavirus and continue court services, are encouraging judges in Iowa's eight districts to conduct more remote civil and criminal proceedings and accept written waivers in some criminal proceedings. ...
Iowa COVID-19 daily update: Gov. Reynolds expresses optimism, medical professionals remain pensive
After weeks of warning about the consequences of Thanksgiving spreading COVID-19 further in Iowa, the travel season has begun in earnest, and it looks like people are still traveling anyway. ...
Hospitalization spike in Iowa prompts concern for staff from health care leadership
State health care leaders continue to raise concerns about the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, warning the general public that the effort to address the increasing patient load is causing burnout for its staff and could have dire impacts on the welfare of the state's health care system ...
Coronavirus data heading in 'right direction' Gov. Kim Reynolds says
JOHNSTON - Buoyed by the prospects of a COVID-19 vaccine and encouraging shifts toward fewer cases and hospitalizations, Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday urged Iowans to stay vigilant during the holidays by following mitigation strategies to protect vulnerable people and keep businesses open. ...
Iowa sees 3,872 new COVID-19 cases, 19 confirmed deaths from the virus
Iowa on Tuesday reported 3,872 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, with a 39.58 percent positivity rate out of the 9,782 tests. ...
Cedar Rapids schools extending virtual learning after Thanksgiving break
CEDAR RAPIDS - The Cedar Rapids Community School District will continue virtual learning for two weeks after Thanksgiving break after another waiver was approved by the Iowa Department of Education Tuesday. ...
Watch: Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks at 11 a.m. about COVID-19 in Iowa
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will hold an 11 a.m. news conference Tuesday, speaking to residents a week after issuing a limited mask mandate in to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in the state. Watch the news conference live in the video player above. ...
Linn-Mar schools to move to virtual instruction after Thanksgiving break
MARION - The Linn-Mar Community School District is transitioning into two weeks of virtual instruction for all students after Thanksgiving break, hoping to alleviate staffing challenges and avoid spread of the coronavirus after the holiday. ...
Iowa prisons expand use of N95 masks as COVID-19 cases mount
The Iowa Corrections Department soon will provide N95 masks to more prison staff to better protect them from COVID-19, which has infected more than 3,100 offenders and 478 staff. ...
As Iowa State, UNI enter unique finals week, campus officials urge diligence in returning home
As Iowa State University and University of Northern Iowa begin their earliest fall finals week in recent history - if not ever - the campuses are issuing warnings and offering tools to protect the families and communities their tens of thousands of students will head home to in the coming ...
Iowa sees 1,678 new COVID-19 cases, below 40 percent positivity rate
Iowa reported 1,678 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, according to data analyzed by The Gazette. ...
Sen. Chuck Grassley 'feeling good' after last week's COVID-19 diagnosis
DES MOINES - U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley tweeted Monday that he continues 'feeling good' after testing positive for COVID-19 last week and plans to be back at work next week in the Senate. ...