Des Moines, Iowa — (RI) — Governor Kim Reynolds is adopting a modified quarantine plan after potentially being exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. The governor visited the White House last Wednesday and hosted Vice President Pence in Iowa on Friday. A member of Pence’s staff is infected, so the governor says she’s taking precautions, though she says she had no direct contact with the staffer.
During Reynolds’ news conference Monday morning, reporters asked questions by phone and the briefing room at the State Emergency Operations Center was nearly empty.
(As above) “My temperature will be taken before entering the building. I’ll be tested daily. I was tested this morning and it was negative and while here I’ll practice social distancing and wear a mask when interacting with others, which will be minimal interaction.”
The governor says she’s healthy and feeling good and has no symptoms of the virus — and most of her staff will be working from home. Reynolds plans to take her temperature at least three times daily. She’ll be tested every morning.
(As above) “We get the results back in about 10 minutes,” Reynolds says.
Again, Monday’s test was negative for COVID-19, so Reynolds went to work at the state emergency operations center in Johnston. She’s been working there rather than the Capitol since March. On Friday, Reynolds greeted Vice President Pence at the Des Moines airport and sat in on two panel discussions with Pence.
(As above) “I did have a face covering with me, but we practiced social distancing the entire time,” Reynolds says.
Reynolds says she’ll make an announcement Tuesday about what businesses may be allowed to reopen later this week and what restrictions may be extended through month’s end.
