COVID-19 pandemic in Iowa

pandemic in Iowa, United States

The COVID-19 pandemic first hit the American Midwest state of Iowa in March 2020. The first known cases were three people who had traveled on a cruise in Egypt. They came home to Johnson County on March 3. Cases were first found at meat packing plants and care facilities. By late October, community spread was a concern in the state.[1]

On March 9, 2020, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency.[2]

On April 25, the first testing site was launched in Des Moines under the new initiative TestIowa.com.[3]

During a May 6, 2020 meeting with Reynolds, then-President Donald Trump answered to the increased coronavirus testing rate.

Impact

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Iowa's largest industry is manufacturing.[4] Most manufacturing relates to food.[5] That means the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the meat packing industry is highly disruptive in Iowa.

Iowa State University, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa expected losses to go past $76 million, $89 million and $28 million, respectively.[6]

As of June 1, 2021, COVID-19 was responsible for more than 6,000 deaths in Iowa.[7]

References

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  1. "Iowa Hospitals Fear an Overwhelming Patient Surge". Cedar Rapids Gazette. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  2. "Gov Reynolds Signs a Disaster Proclamation Following Confirmed COVID-19 Cases". We are Iowa. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  3. "Iowa Launches COVID-19 Testing Site in Des Moines". Des Moines Register. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  4. "The Biggest Industries in Iowa". The World Atlas. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  5. "Iowa Workforce and the Economy". Iowa Workforce Development. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  6. "Iowa's Universities Report Coronavirus Blow in the Hundreds of Millions". Cedar Rapids Gazette. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  7. "Iowa Reports Two More COVID-19 Deaths". KWWL Waterloo. Retrieved June 3, 2021.