public health

In the wake of the first publicly-known death of an Iowa Department of Corrections employee due to COVID-19, the head of the union representing corrections workers in Iowa is calling for the state's prisons to "shelter-in-place" in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus behind bars.

Allegations surfaced in a lawsuit this week that Tyson pork plant managers in Waterloo were betting on how many workers would get sick from COVID-19. Now, a local lawmaker is renewing his call for the governor to provide more information about her response to the meatpacking plant outbreak that infected more than 1,000 workers last spring, many of whom are immigrants and refugees.

Across Iowa new COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations remain high, this continues to put a strain on the state’s health care system.

The coronavirus is tearing through Iowa's prisons, infecting more than 3,000 people and upending regular operations. So far, nine deaths have been linked to the outbreaks, which are spreading rapidly as the state's overall case numbers grow exponentially.

There are now more patients hospitalized for COVID-19 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics than at any other point in the pandemic. But a top official says beds are still available and additional capacity is being created, due to measures taken by staff and administrators.

This week as new coronavirus hospitalizations continue to set new records across Iowa. Gov. Kim Reynolds issued new restrictions including a partial indoor mask requirement. But some public health experts worry mixed messaging from the governor is undermining an effective public health strategy.

The University of Iowa football team played its first game this weekend in a season that had previously been derailed by the coronavirus. Fans crowded into bars to watch, even as the virus continues to rage across the state and hospitals see a surge in patients.

The CEO of Iowa's largest hospital is warning that a lack of capacity is limiting providers' abilities to care for patients, and to accept transfers from hospitals across the state.

A coalition of faculty, staff and students at the University of Iowa is organizing a sickout to call attention to the rapid spread of the coronavirus on campus. Organizers hope to pressure administrators to move to fully online instruction.

Iowa State University announced plans to allow some 25,000 fans to attend the first Cyclone football game of the season in-person. That's despite Ames and Iowa City having more new cases per capita than any other metro areas in the country.