Region 6 under stricter shelter orders
Hunter
04/16/20
The Iowa Department of Public Health on Thursday said cases of COVID -19 have topped 2100.
Additionally, one of the regions has reached the 10 out of 12 mark. There are 146 new COVID-19 cases for a total now of 2,141 cases in the state. 60 people have been confirmed dead due to the virus.
Linn County continues to have the most cases, with 280, but Polk County is now the second-highest infected county in the state, with 256 cases. Johnson County is at 234.
The recovery rate is now 46%, with 987 of the confirmed cases either recovered or recovering.
The Regional Medical Coordination Center, which divides Iowa into six regions and shows how hospitals are keeping up during the outbreak now classifies Region 6 as a 10 out of a maximum of 12. This region includes Linn, Black Hawk, Dubuque Allamakee, Benton, Bremer, Buchanon, Clayton, Delaware, Fayette, Grundy, Howard, Jones, and Winneshiek counties. Regions that reach the 10 mark are subject to stricter shelter-in-place orders.
Region 5, which includes Johnson County, is at a 9.
Gov. Kim Reynolds said effective at 11:59pm Thursday, all gatherings for social, community, recreational, sporting or leisure activities must cease through the end of the month in Region 6. Exceptions include weddings, funerals, and religious services, provided that ten or fewer people attend.
The governor’s order does not apply to workplaces, but employers must take reasonable steps to increase work from home and protect the health of remaining employees and the public.