Statewide Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds says while escalating Covid patient counts in Iowa hospitals have set records every day this week, hospitals aren’t being overrun and the vast majority of patients do not have the virus.
(as said) “When you take a look at the census, or the people that are hospitalized across the state and the number of individuals that are hospitalized due to Covid, on average it’s about 11 percent,” Reynolds says.
On the night of Thursday, October 29th, Iowa hospitals reported treating 606 Covid patients and the state’s coronavirus tracking website shows that about 33 percent of hospital beds were available. Reynolds says recently developed therapeutics that were NOT available earlier in the pandemic are improving patient outcomes.
(as said) “While our hospitalizations are going up, we’re actually seeing the stay shortened,” Reynolds says.
Reynolds spoke with reporters on October 29th after a meeting in Stuart’s City Hall. The governor says she spoke with the news media in Sioux City a week ago and in Cedar Rapids earlier this week to remind Iowans of the basics: to stay home if they’re sick, wash their hands frequently and wear a mask if they cannot stay at least six feet from others.
(as said) Reynolds says, “I’ve been doing a lot of radio, so I’ve been trying to call in and just remind people that we’re all in this together.”
After ordering schools and some businesses to close this spring, Reynolds has said she trusts Iowans to be responsible in managing risks and learning to live with Covid-19, although she did order bars in a handful of counties to close for a few weeks in late summer when Covid cases spiked among young adults.
(as said) “We want to continue to keep things open, we just have to do it in a safe and responsible manner,” Reynolds says. “We want to continue to keep our kids in school.”
Reynolds has indicated 75 to 80 percent of Iowa students are getting in-person instruction. On Wednesday, October 28th, Reynolds mocked Theresa Greenfield for suspending her RV tour after the first day. Greenfield staffers had contact with someone who tested positive for Covid. After getting negative test results, Greenfield and her staff resumed campaigning on Thursday, October 29th. Reynolds says her criticism was not of Greenfield’s approach to Covid protocols, but that Greenfield hasn’t held public events in all 99 counties.
