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BREAKING NEWS: Continuous updates surrounding Iowa State and COVID-19
Iowa State has transitioned to online courses for the rest of the spring semester following spring break amid COVID-19 pandemic.
May 3, 2020
Editor’s Note: This article will be updated as more information is released surrounding COVID-19 and the Iowa State community.
May 2: The Iowa Department of Public Health has been notified of 757 new positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the total positive cases in Iowa to 8,641. An additional five deaths have been reported.
May 1: This morning, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced 740 new cases in Iowa and 8 more deaths due to COVID-19. Reynolds said this brings Iowa to a total of 7,885 positive cases.
Reynolds said due to a high volume of tests being conducted through the state hygienic lab in a short period of time there is a backlog in the data entry process, but it is being addressed and will be updated this weekend.
April 30: One day after announcing the highest number of single-day deaths from COVID-19 in Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced a new record for single-day deaths. Reynolds said that 14 Iowans died from April 29 to April 30 from COVID-19 and 302 new positive tests recorded
President Donald Trump declares meat and poultry workers as essential workers. The beef, pork and poultry industry must stay open and continue to operate, according to the executive order.
April 29: Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the highest number of single day deaths from COVID-19 in Iowa. Between April 27 and April 28, 12 deaths were reported along with 467 new positive cases of COVID-19. This makes for a total of 6,843 positive cases in Iowa with a total of 148 deaths.
The second Test Iowa site opened in Waterloo, with two more sites in Woodbury and Scott county set to open next week. Since its opening April 25, 874 Iowans have been tested at the Test Iowa site in Des Moines.
April 28: There have been 508 new positive cases of COVID-19 reported as well as nine deaths. This makes for a total of 6,376 positive cases of COVID-19 in Iowa and a total of 136 deaths. Governor Kim. Reynolds announced Test Iowa will be opening a second test site tomorrow in Waterloo.
Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen has named an Executive Committee for Fall Planning that is tasked with creating plans to safely reinstate teaching and research programs on campus in the upcoming fall semester.
Organizers of the Maximum Ames Music Festival announced the event will not take place this year.
April 27: Gov. Kim Reynolds discussed measures in reopening the state for businesses, restaurants and retail stores. Effective May 1, in 77 counties, the following businesses can choose to reopen but comply with certain restrictions: restaurants, fitness centers and retail stores previously closed may reopen at 50 percent normal operating capacity.
There have been 349 additional positive cases of COVID-19 in the state, making a total of 5,868 cases confirmed. The Iowa Department of Public Health reported nine additional deaths, for a total of 127.
April 26: The Iowa Department of Public Health has been notified of an additional 384 positive COVID-19 cases, making a total of 5,476 positive cases in Iowa. IDPH also reported an additional six deaths, for a total of 118.
April 25: The Iowa Department of Public Health has been notified of an additional 648 positive COVID-19 cases, making a total of 5,092 positive cases in Iowa. IDPH also reported an additional five deaths.
April 24: The Iowa Department of Public Health has been notified of an additional 521 positive COVID-19 cases, making a total of 4,445 cases in Iowa. IDPH also reported an additional 11 deaths.
Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Iowa health care providers will be able to resume elective surgeries and procedures April 27.
April 23: There are 176 new positive COVID-19 cases in the state of Iowa, bringing the total number of positive cases to 3,924. There have been an additional six deaths.
As the spring semester finishes up, Iowa State has determined summer classes will continue through online instruction.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending some new immigration for 60 days, with exceptions for essential workers, spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens.
April 22: Gov. Kim Reynolds announced 107 new cases in that state of Iowa, for a total of 3,748 positive cases. Reynolds also announced a strike team will test employees at long-term care facilities in Tama County, and the first Test Iowa public drive thru site will open April 25. There are seven new deaths from COVID-19 in Iowa, which brings the total number to 90.
April 21: Gov. Kim Reynolds announced 482 new cases of COVID-19 in Iowa. This brings the total number of cases to 3,641. Reynolds also announced a new partnership and online health assessment to increase testing by up to 3,000 additional tests per day.
April 20: Gov. Reynolds announces 257 new COVID-19 cases in the state of Iowa, bringing the total number of positive cases to 3,159. She also addressed what measures the state was taking to protect inmates.
April 19: There are 389 new COVID-19 cases in the state of Iowa, bringing the total number of positive cases to 2,902. 261 of these new cases can be attributed to surveillance testing of meat processing facilities. This sets the record for most new cases in a single day.
April 18: The Iowa Department of Public Health has been notified of 181 additional positive cases for a total of 2,513 positive cases in Iowa.
April 17: Gov. Kim Reynolds said that schools will remain closed through the end of this school year due to COVID-19. Reynolds reported there are 191 new positive COVID-19 cases in Iowa, which brings the statewide total to 2,332 positive cases.
April 16: 146 new cases have been reported, bringing the total cases in Iowa to 2,141. Seven addition deaths were reported, for a total of 60. Reynolds announced there will be more testing in the near future to keep up with the increase in cases being reported.
April 15: Gov. Kim Reynolds announced 96 new positive cases of COVID-19 in Iowa, bringing the total to 1,995 cases.
Four additional deaths have been reported, including one elderly adult in Polk County, one elderly adult in Clayton County, one older adult in Allamakee County, one older adult in Johnson County for a total of 53 deaths in Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Public Health confirmed an outbreak at a long-term care facility at the Wilton Retirement Community in Muscatine County, bringing the total of long-term care facility outbreaks to seven. More than 10 percent of Iowa’s total positive cases and 49 percent are related to long-term care outbreaks.
April 13: There has been 113 additional positive tests for COVID-19 along with two reported deaths, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced during her April 13 press conference. Iowa’s total number of positive cases to date is 1,710.
Reynolds said the numbers of Iowans recovering are increasing and in a future press conference she will discuss what Iowa’s epidemic curve means for the future of COVID-19. Reynolds said Iowa’s peak is projected to happen later this month, and until the peak passes the number of positive cases and deaths will continue to increase.
April 12: The Iowa Department of Public Health has been informed of 77 additional positive cases of COVID-19, which amounts to a total of 1,587 positive cases in Iowa. According to IDPH, there have been an additional 7 deaths reported.
April 11: The Iowa Department of Public Health was notified of 122 additional positive cases of COVID-19 in the state of Iowa for a total of 1,510 positive cases.
April 10: Gov. Kim Reynolds announced steps the state is taking to combat food insecurity amid the COVID-19 pandemic during her press conference.
Reynolds also announced a further 118 new COVID-19 cases in Iowa for a total of 1,388, and an additional two deaths in Linn County, for a total of 31 deaths across the state caused by the disease.
April 9: There has been 125 additional positive tests for COVID-19 along with two reported deaths, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced during her press conference.
April 8: Gov. Kim Reynolds announced in a press conference that the number of positive cases for COVID-19 in Iowa has increased by 97, reaching a total of 1145. Iowa’s death toll rose by one to make 27 deaths total.
Reynolds announced that Small Business Relief Program grants will be expanding from $4 million to $24 million due to high demand.
It was announced portions of Iowa State’s summer orientation will be moving online to ensure the safety of incoming students and their families.
April 7: The Iowa Department of Public Health was notified of 102 additional COVID-19 cases which makes a total of 1,048 positive cases in the state. The IDPH was also notified of one additional death, which makes 26 total.
Gen. Ben Correl of the Iowa National Guard said transportation units are working to deliver vital medical protective equipment to county emergency management facilities throughout the state.
April 6: Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the number of Iowans who tested positive for COVID-19 rose by 78 to a total of 946 in a press conference April 6, while the disease’s Iowa death toll rose by three to 25.
Confirmed cases have been identified in more than three-quarter’s of Iowa’s counties, the governor said.
April 5: The Iowa Department of Public Health has been notified of an additional 83 positive cases of COVID-19 making a total of 868 positive cases in Iowa. An additional eight deaths were also reported to the IDPH.
April 4: The Iowa Department of Public Health has been notified of 87 new positive COVID-19 Iowan cases and an additional three reported deaths.
April 3: The Iowa Department of Public Health has been notified of 85 additional positive cases of Iowans with COVID-19, for a total of 699 positive cases.
April 2: The Iowa Department of Public Health has been notified of 52 new positive COVID-19 Iowan cases along with two reported deaths.
Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Iowa schools will remain closed through the month of April to mitigate the threat from the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 1: The Iowa Department of Public Health has been notified of 52 new positive COVID-19 Iowan cases along with two reported deaths. With the additional 52 cases, it brings the total of positive Iowa cases to 549. The two reported deaths were both elderly adults older than 81, one from Polk County and the other of Washington County.
March 31: The Iowa Department of Public Health has been notified of 73 new cases of COVID-19 in Iowa along with the death of an individual between the ages of 41 and 60 in Muscatine County.
Iowa State announced new employee leave policies in an email from President Wendy Wintersteen and Interim Vice President for University Human Resources Kristi Darr.
March 30: The Iowa Department of Public Health has been notified of 88 more positive cases of COVID-19, making a total of 424 positive cases in Iowa. Two more Iowans have passed away due to COVID-19 bringing the state’s total to six.
March 29: The fourth Iowan diagnosed with COVID-19 died the night of March 27 in Linn County as the number of cases in the state rose by 38 to 336 total.
March 28: Iowa Department of Public Health has reported 64 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Iowa, bringing the total to 298 positive cases. A previously identified case in Black Hawk county was not from Iowa. There have been a total of 4,375 negative tests conducted, which includes testing reported by the State Hygienic Lab and other labs.
March 27: The Iowa Department of Public Health has been informed of 56 more positive cases of COVID-19, making a total of 235 positive cases in the state. Two Iowans passed away due to COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to three deaths.
Gov. Kim Reynolds office said the proclamation she signed March 26 suspending non-essential and elective medical procedures until April 16 includes surgical abortions.
According to Johns Hopkins University, the United States has overtaken China and Italy for the highest number of COVID-19 cases.
A $2 trillion dollar bipartisan stimulus bill named the CARES Act was signed by President Donald Trump, the largest stimulus bill in U.S. history, with the goal of addressing the ongoing economic decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 25: The Iowa Department of Public Health has been notified of 21 new positive cases of Iowans with COVID-19. This makes a total of 145 positive cases for the state.
March 24: The Iowa Department of Public Health said a person who tested positive for the disease caused by COVID-19 died March 24, the first death associated with the disease in the state.
March 22, 7:15 p.m.: President Wintersteen sent an email addressing Gov. Kim Reynolds’ recommendation for anyone who has traveled recently outside of Iowa to self-isolate.
March 22: The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) was notified of an additional 22 positive cases of COVID-19 in Iowa, bringing the state’s total to 90 positive COVID-19 cases
March 21: The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) was notified of 23 more positive cases of COVID-19 in Iowa, including one in Story County, bringing Iowa’s total to 68 positive COVID-19 cases.
March 20: Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an additional emergency proclamation that temporarily temporarily suspended the collection of property taxes and penalties and interests, evictions in certain circumstances, extended expiration deadlines for permits to acquire firearms, permitted the sale of carry-out, delivery or drive-through alcohol for unopened bottles for bars and restaurants and suspended some fees pertaining to that.
March 19: Iowa State’s Department of Residence and ISU Dining is working on the details of reimbursement, moving students out of residence halls and dining safety while practicing social distancing.
March 19: The border between United States Canada border will temporarily close to all but essential travel by the mutual consent of the American and Canadian governments due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 18, 4 p.m.: Virtual instruction for Iowa State classes will be extended through the end of spring semester, Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen announced in an email. The May commencement ceremony has been cancelled, though staff are working to have a live-streamed graduation address available.
March 18, 12:55 p.m.: The State of Iowa Board of Regents President Mike Richards declared the spread of COVID-19 a State of Emergency in Iowa’s public universities.
March 17, 7 p.m.: Iowa State’s Memorial Union closed to the public until further notice.
March 17, 1:10 p.m.: ISU Dining announced in a tweet that all locations will be transitioning to carry-out service only immediately until March 31.
March 17, 12:18 p.m.: The ISU Police Department (ISU PD) will be suspending its SafeRide services, ride-alongs and fingerprinting services due to growing concerns over COVID-19, according to a statement on Twitter this morning.
ISU PD will continue to have dispatchers answering phones and police officers responding to calls for service, according to the thread of tweets.
March 17, 10:52 a.m.: All theaters, gyms, casinos, senior centers and adult daycare facilities are ordered to close at noon on March 17 in Iowa, while all bars and restaurants were ordered to only serve food in a carry-out and drive-through capacity beginning at the same time according to a proclamation signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds.
March 17, 9:40 a.m.: While campus services like dining and housing will remain open, the university is closing several facilities including Parks Library, University Museums, and Rec Services. More closures can be found on Iowa State’s changes and closures page.
Iowa State is asking all campus employers to make flexible accommodations for employees to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19, said President Wendy Wintersteen in an email.
March 14, 1:27 p.m.: All Iowa State university-related non-essential domestic travel has been prohibited until further notice, effective immediately, according to a statement from President Wendy Wintersteen.
March 13, 7:08 p.m.: In a press release issued Friday evening, Big 12 Senior Associate Commissioner Bob Burda announced that all spring sports will be canceled for the remainder of the academic year.
March 13, 4:43 p.m.: President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in response to COVID-19 this afternoon.
March 12, 5:32 p.m.: The university announced that all Iowa State events, activities and exhibitions, on or off campus, must be canceled, postponed or virtualized, effective Monday, March 16, and continuing through Saturday, April 4, 2020.
March 12, 3:19 p.m.: NCAA President Mark Emmert announced the inevitable news Thursday afternoon that the NCAA would be canceling all remaining winter and spring postseason tournaments.
March 12, 10:54 a.m.: A day after NCAA president Mark Emmert announced that all NCAA postseason tournaments will be held without fans, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby announced at an 11 a.m. press conference on Thursday that the Big 12 will cancel its postseason basketball tournaments completely
March 11, 4:38 p.m.: Iowa State gymnastics has decided that the meet Friday against Air Force will be restricted to families and key essential staff.
March 11, 1:52 p.m.: All Iowa State classes will move online beginning March 23 and will continue through April 3, according to a statement from President Wendy Wintersteen.
March 10, 6:31 p.m.: The office of Gov. Kim Reynolds announced in a press release Tuesday there are an additional five cases of COVID-19 in Johnson County. All of the individuals who are “presumptive positive” cases are between the ages of 61 and 80 and were also on the cruise in Egypt as the seven other Johnson County cases.
March 9, 6:11 p.m.: Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a disaster proclamation and announced another five “presumptive positive” cases of COVID-19 in Iowa late Monday, bringing the total of presumptive cases in the state to eight.
March 8, 6:25 p.m.: There are three “presumptive positive” cases of COVID-19 in Iowa. The governor said all three cases are Johnson County residents and all are currently in self-isolation.
March 4, 5:01 p.m.: Iowa State suspended spring break study abroad programs Wednesday for Africa, Asia and Europe because of the COVID-19 threats.
Feb. 29, 2:15 p.m.: Students studying abroad in Italy are set to return to the U.S. earlier than expected as Iowa State has prohibited all travel to Italy in response to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warning which recommends travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Italy.
An email from Jennifer Hogan, program coordinator for design administration, informed some of those studying abroad that they need to depart from Italy by March 6 but are recommended to leave Italy as soon as possible.
Jan 28. 12:11 p.m.: President Wendy Wintersteen responded to the ongoing-novel coronavirus outbreak by sending an email to the Iowa State community that said the university is prohibiting travel to China by students and employees until it is safe to do so.
