Hunter
03/16/20
Governor Reynolds Sunday night recommended a month-long closing of schools to slow the “substantial community spread of COVID-19 in the state.”
Four new cases were announced, bringing the total number to 22 so far. Two of the four new cases, one in Johnson County, had no connection to international travel or a known exposure to a person with COVID-19.
While not making it a direct order, school districts across the state are announcing that they will follow the governor’s recommendation. Des Moines schools extended their March 30 closure to April 13th. The Iowa City Community School District is on spring break and said they would have an announcement regarding additional closures no later than Thursday.
The Johnson County Board of Supervisors and other officials have scheduled an emergency meeting Tuesday morning to discuss and plan the county’s response plan to the outbreak.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced Sunday that it “recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.” It added that its guidance is not intended to supersede the advice of local public health officials nor apply to day to day operation of organizations such as schools or businesses.
