COVID-19: The latest

Staff report

Heartland Bank this week donated $10,000 to support food pantries in the communities it serves, including Jefferson and Gowrie.

“Heartland Bank is proud to support their local food pantries and knows the pantries make a big difference in the lives of those in need each and every day,” the bank said in a statement.

• Gov. Kim Reynolds announced steps Monday to begin reopening Iowa effective Friday.

Reynolds’ new proclamation continuing the state public health emergency until May 27 loosens social distancing measures in 77 Iowa counties, including Greene County, which recorded its second confirmed case of COVID-19 the same day.

In the 77 counties, the proclamation permits restaurants, fitness centers, malls, libraries, race tracks and certain other retail establishments to reopen in a limited fashion with public health measures in place. In addition, the proclamation lifts the restriction on religious and spiritual gatherings so long as churches and other gathering hosts implement public health measures.

Reynolds said she “strongly” encourages all vulnerable Iowans, including those with pre-existing medical conditions and those older than 65, in all counties of the state to continue to limit activities outside the home.

Restaurants on Friday will be able to reopen to serve food and beverages on their premises, but must limit the number of customers present to 50 percent of their normal operating capacity.

Restaurants must also ensure that no group of customers seated together is larger than six people.

Movie theaters, salons, casinos, bowling alleys, playgrounds and campgrounds will continue to be closed, even in the 77 counties Reynolds is reopening.

Neighboring Dallas County, where COVID-19 is surging, is among counties where social distancing measures will remain in place until 11:59 p.m. May 15.

The Iowa Department of Public Health on Tuesday announced 508 additional positive cases of COVID-19 in the state, as well as nine more deaths.

The state cautioned that the number of positive cases will continue to grow as Test Iowa sites open and additional surveillance testing of large businesses and nursing home staff continues.

• The state on Monday announced a new program, Pass the Pork, to connect Iowa pig farmers with food insecure Iowans.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship are helping Iowa farmers donate pigs to Iowa food bank feeding programs. Local meat processors are also extending hours of operation to process and package pork to help meet the growing demand for food bank and food pantry resources.

Iowa pig farmers and meat processors who are interested in participating in the program should contact the Iowa Pork Producers Association at 515-225-7675.

Landus Cooperative on Tuesday afternoon announced a $20,000 donation to support the Iowa Food Bank Association and the new Pass the Pork program.

The program comes as Iowa leaders urge “immediate assistance” from the Trump administration to support pork producers.

The leaders — Reynolds, U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig — say that invoking the Defense Production Act will be required to keep Iowa pork production viable.

• Even though Reynolds has OK’d religious gatherings, the Diocese of Sioux City has decided to wait out COVID-19 longer.

Bishop Walker Nickless announced on Tuesday he’s not yet lifting the suspension of public Masses he made March 16.

The bishop said he’s aware of the governor’s proclamation and is carefully considering how to proceed, taking into consideration the well-being of priests and the faithful of the diocese.

Masses will continue to be livestreamed for the time being.

In a statement, all four Iowa bishops said COVID-19 “remains a real and present danger.”

“In particular,” the bishops said, “the health and survival of the elderly and other vulnerable populations is still a grave concern. Many parishioners and priests fall within these groups.”

“Without an effective vaccine or widespread testing and contact data that justifies a change in course,” they said, “we simply are not at a place where we can resume our previous prayer practices.”

• Greene County Extension is making it easier to make a mask for personal use or to donate.

The Greene County office of Iowa State University Extension & Outreach is offering mask kits for community members thanks to Greene County Extension office assistant Cindy Adamson, who donated fabric and is preparing kits for anyone who would like them. 

Two different patterns are available, along with a list of where that specific pattern can be donated.

Kits are available at the Extension office, 104 W. Washington St. in Jefferson, between 9 and 11 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Each kit has directions and supplies to make one mask. A sewing machine will be required.

Call 515-386-2138 for more information.

• The Greene County Community School District is making changes to its grab-and-go lunch program during the closure.

Beginning Monday, the district will only hand out lunches on Mondays and Thursdays, but will continue to provide lunch and breakfast for an entire week.

On Mondays, children will be served a hot entree and then receive either take and bake food or a cold sandwich for Tuesday and Wednesday.  On Thursdays, children will receive a hot entree and then either receive take and bake or a cold sandwich for Friday.  Breakfast items will also be included.

Serving times remain the same: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the middle school; 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Grand Junction, Rippey and Scranton community centers; in addition to the bus stops in Farlin and Dana.

• Paton-Churdan High School has set two tentative dates for its 2020 commencement. Graduation will be at 2 p.m. June 13. If unable to have it then, P-C will try again at 2 p.m. July 12.

• As the state begins to reopen, Iowa Workforce Development on Monday announced that Iowans on a temporary layoff related to COVID-19 who refuse to return to work when recalled will lose unemployment benefits.

Benefits will be lost except in certain circumstances, including:

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 and are experiencing symptoms; 

If you have recovered but it caused medical complications rendering you unable to perform essential job duties; 

If a member of your household has been diagnosed with COVID-19; 

If you are providing care for a member of your household who was diagnosed with COVID-19; 

If you do not have child care due to COVID-19 reasons;

If you don’t have transportation to your place of work because of COVID-19. 

Refusing to return to work when recalled will be considered a “voluntary quit,” according to IWD, which would disqualify a claimant from receiving benefits, including the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefit of $600 weekly.

Visit www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov for more information.

• Greene County Auditor Jane Heun is again encouraging voters to cast absentee ballots by mail in the June 2 primary election.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, voting by mail is the safest option, according to Heun.

The state is sending absentee ballot request forms to every active registered voter in Iowa. The forms should be arriving in mailboxes this week and will include prepaid postage for returning them to the local auditor’s office.

Iowans can also download a request form directly from the Iowa Secretary of State website, VoterReady.Iowa.gov. Requests must be received by the county auditor’s office by 5 p.m. May 22 for a ballot to be mailed to a voter.

Primary elections are intended for members of the Republican and Democratic parties only.