Gov. Reynolds Possibly Exposed To COVID-19

Gov. Kim Reynolds admitted Monday that she is taking extra precautions after learning she may have recently been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

The governor visited the White House Wednesday to update President Donald Trump on Iowa's response to the coronavirus pandemic, then hosted Vice-President Mike Pence Friday during his trip to Des Moines. According to the governor, it was during Pence's visit to Iowa when she learned that a member of his staff tested positive for the coronavirus.

Reynolds said the infected person was present during her trip to the White House, but she did not have direct contact with that member of Pence's staff.

During Monday's press briefing, Reynolds told reporters that she's now under a modified quarantine plan "out of an abundance of caution". The governor said she will be having her temperature taken daily before entering the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Johnston and meeting with her staff.

Reynolds is expected to ease more pandemic restrictions in Iowa later this week, but some will like be extended through the end of the month. On Monday, the governor said she'll make an announcement Tuesday about what businesses may be allowed to reopen and which ones may have to remain closed.

The Iowa Department of Public Health announced 414 new cases of the coronavirus Monday morning, along with six additional deaths. To date, COVID-19 has claimed 271 lives in Iowa. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Iowa rose to 12,373.

State health officials say 413 people are currently hospitalized in Iowa with symptoms of the coronavirus, including 30 in Black Hawk County, 26 in Linn County, 24 in Dallas County, 18 in Dubuque County, and 17 in Marshall County.

There are currently 108 patients hospitalized in Polk County, which has recorded 2,368 positive cases so far – the highest of Iowa’s 99 counties. As of Monday morning, 77 patients were hospitalized in Woodbury County.

Statewide, 5,249 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered. A total of 77,792 people have been tested.