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COVID-19

More COVID-19 cases at the Iowa Capitol

Four people at the Iowa Capitol reported testing positive for the coronavirus since the legislative session began, including two additional cases which were announced over the weekend. Rep. Amy Nielsen, D-North Liberty, confirmed to multiple news outlets that she was one of the two new cases announced Saturday. Capitol staff and legislators are not required to announce if they test positive for COVID-19. Nielsen is the first lawmaker to openly report that she contracted the virus since session began Jan. 11. Lawmakers must be present at the Capitol to vote and to participate in ...

3 cases of new COVID-19 variant in Iowa

Des Moines - The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) on Monday confirmed three cases of the COVID-19 variant - SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7. - in Iowa. The virus variant is often referred to as the U.K. variant because it was first detected in the United Kingdom. Based on epidemiologic and modeling data, researchers believe that the B.1.1.7 strain can be spread more easily than the original strain of SARS-CoV-2. Current COVID-19 vaccines are considered to be effective against the variant strain. Two of the three B.1.1.7 cases were detected in Johnson County - an adult (18 to 40) and a middle ...

GOP lawmakers urge Biden to meet with them on virus relief

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ten Republican senators on Sunday proposed spending about one-third of what President Joe Biden is seeking in coronavirus aid and urged him to negotiate rather than try to ram through his $1.9 trillion package solely on Democratic votes. In challenging Biden to fulfill ...

Iowa reports record 250 deaths linked to the coronavirus

DES MOINES — Iowa reported a record 250 deaths linked to the coronavirus Sunday, which is the biggest one-day increase the state has recorded. The state reported 4,901 deaths linked to COVID-19 on Sunday morning. That was 250 more than what the state reported Saturday, and the figure is significantly higher than the average of 23.43 deaths reported per day over the past week. But the 250 deaths reported Sunday didn't occur within the last 24 hours. The deaths included many from the end of December and early January because it often takes more than a week for deaths to be added ...

Iowa lawmaker blames lack of House rules for virus infection

DES MOINES — A Democratic state lawmaker said she has tested positive for COVID-19 and thinks she was infected with the virus at the Iowa Capitol, where Republicans have refused to mandate masks or require people to disclose positive cases. The announcement by Rep. Amy Nielsen of North Liberty on Saturday night marked the first confirmed case among legislators, but there have been three other positive cases among people associated in the House since the legislative session began three weeks ago. One of those additional cases was announced by the House's chief clerk Saturday, but ...

Marshalltown Schools end hybrid learning

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law Friday morning requiring Iowa schools to offer a 100 percent in-person learning option along with a 100 percent virtual learning option. Marshalltown Schools will end their hybrid learning option for grades seventh through twelfth on February 16, and ...