STEVE: THE IOWA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION WANTS THE STATE TO CRACKDOWN ON ESTABLISHMENTS THAT DON’T FOLLOW COVID-19 DISTANCING RULES. KCCI’S CHRIS GOTHNER IS LIVE IN WEST DES MOINES TONIGHT WITH A NEW ENFORCEMENT PROPOSAL. CHRIS WELL STEVE THE HEAD OF THE : RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SPOKE HERE AT GILROY’S. IT’S RARE FOR SOMEONE IN HER POSITION TO BE CALLING FOR MORE REGULATIONS ON RESTAURANTS, BUT SHE SAYS RESTAURANTS DOING THE RIGHT THING WANT A LEVEL PLAYING FIEL AS COVID-19 CONTINUES TO SPREAD, SOCIAL DISTANCING REMAINS ON THE MENU AT DISTRICT 36 IN ANKENY. >> BIGGEST THING FOR US IS MAKING SURE ALL GROUPS ARE 6FT AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. CHRIS BUT CO-OWNER SEAN MUNRO : SAYS IT’S CLEAR SOME RESTAURANTS AREN’T FOLLOWING ALL THE RULES. HE SAYS HE’S SEEN CUSTOMERS DO THIS FROM TIME TO TIME AMID THE PANDEMIC. >> THEY WANT TO MOVE THE SIGNS TO DIFFERENT TABLES, OUR SOCIAL DISTANCE SIGNS, BECAUSE THEY CAN DO THAT AT OTHER PLACES. WELL, WE’RE NOT OTHER PLACES, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE STAYS SAFE. AND IT DOES FRUSTRATE ME A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE CUSTOMERS DO GET THE BAD IDEA THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO DO THAT CHRIS SPEAKING AT A NEWS : CONFERENCE THURSDAY ENCOURAGING MASK-WEARING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING. IOWA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION CEO JESSICA DUNKER SAYS SHE’D LIKE TO SEE INCREASED ENFORCEMENT. RIGHT NOW IT’S UP TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONS AND APPEALS TO DETERMINE WHETHER RESTAURANTS ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING AS PART OF ITS INSPECTION PROCESS. SHE THINKS THE ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO BE MORE STRICT, SO BUSINESSES FOLLOWING THE RULES AREN’T AT A DISADVANTAGE. >> WE AS AN INDUSTRY, AS AN ASSOCIATION, ARE READY TO GET BEHIND ANY PROPOSED ACTIONS THAT WOULD PENALIZE THOSE OPERATORS. >> I THINK THAT WOULD DEFINITELY EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD. CHRIS AND MUNRO SAYS MAKING SURE : CUSTOMERS ARE KEPT SAFE WILL KEEP RESTAURANTS AFLOAT. >> WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO STAY OPEN AND IF THINGS KEEP GETTING WORSE THE LAST THING WE NEED IS A SHUTDOWN. CHRIS: DUNKER SAYS THE DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONS AND APPEALS ISN’T THE PROBLEM. SHE SAYS I DON’T REALLY HAVE ENOUGH AUTHORITY, SHE SAYS HAVE AN EDUCATION ROLE. SHE SAYS THEY NEED MORE AUTHORITY TO MAKE SURE THESE GUIDELINES HAVE SOME TEETH. THIS AFTERNOON, I ASKED THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE IF IT IS IS PLANNING TO INTRODUCE MORE GUIDELINES OR ENFORCEMENT ON RESTAURANTS. SO FAR I HAVEN’T HEARD BA
451 new coronavirus cases, 5 additional deaths reported in Iowa
Iowa Department of Public Health data shows Iowa is nearing 41,000 coronavirus cases.As of 10 a.m. Friday, IDPH reported 451 new coronavirus cases and 5 additional deaths. There have now been 40,960 positive cases, 29,148 recoveries and 820 deaths in Iowa since the pandemic began. At 10 a.m. Thursday, IDPH had reported 40,509 total cases and 815 deaths in the state.IDPH reported 6,534 people tested for the virus Thursday. One of 7 Iowans have been tested for COVID-19. One of 77 have tested positive. IDPH reported a 7.4% positivity rate Thursday.There are currently 230 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, down from 232 the previous day. There are 72 patients listed in intensive care, down from 73 the previous day. There are 27 patients on ventilators, down from 32 the previous day. IDPH reported 28 patients admitted in the last 24 hours, down from 33 the previous day.IDPH reported approximately 3,160 inpatient beds available, with 473 ICU beds and 761 ventilators available in the state.Outbreaks in Iowa’s long-term care facilities continue to grow. After a peak of 30 outbreaks, the state had reported only 12 outbreaks in early July. There are now 21 outbreaks in the state. IDPH reported 548 positive cases in those facilities and 154 recoveries. There have been 441 deaths in Iowa’s long-term care facilities.The Iowa Department of Public Health displays the latest coronavirus data in real time on this website. KCCI publishes a snapshot of the previous 24 hours of data each day at 10 a.m.
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Iowa Department of Public Health data shows Iowa is nearing 41,000 coronavirus cases.
As of 10 a.m. Friday, IDPH reported 451 new coronavirus cases and 5 additional deaths.
There have now been 40,960 positive cases, 29,148 recoveries and 820 deaths in Iowa since the pandemic began. At 10 a.m. Thursday, IDPH had reported 40,509 total cases and 815 deaths in the state.
IDPH reported 6,534 people tested for the virus Thursday. One of 7 Iowans have been tested for COVID-19. One of 77 have tested positive. IDPH reported a 7.4% positivity rate Thursday.
There are currently 230 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, down from 232 the previous day. There are 72 patients listed in intensive care, down from 73 the previous day. There are 27 patients on ventilators, down from 32 the previous day. IDPH reported 28 patients admitted in the last 24 hours, down from 33 the previous day.
IDPH reported approximately 3,160 inpatient beds available, with 473 ICU beds and 761 ventilators available in the state.
Outbreaks in Iowa’s long-term care facilities continue to grow. After a peak of 30 outbreaks, the state had reported only 12 outbreaks in early July. There are now 21 outbreaks in the state. IDPH reported 548 positive cases in those facilities and 154 recoveries. There have been 441 deaths in Iowa’s long-term care facilities.
The Iowa Department of Public Health displays the latest coronavirus data in real time on this website. KCCI publishes a snapshot of the previous 24 hours of data each day at 10 a.m.
