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