FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, October 19, 2020
CONTACT: press@iowademocrats.org
GOP Mishandling Has Led To Record-High Hospitalizations, Iowa Leading the Nation in COVID-19 Positivity Rates
President Trump and Governor Reynolds lied to Iowans and refused to follow CDC guidance, now Iowa is a national COVID-19 hotspot
DES MOINES — Less than a week after President Trump held a dangerous, super-spreader rally in Des Moines, Iowa is leading the nation in COVID-19 positivity rates. Trump, Governor Reynolds, and the GOP have repeatedly refused to follow White House task force guidance or implement basic CDC protocol like a mask mandate, and the consequences are clear: Iowa’s coronavirus hospitalization rate is continuing to rise dramatically and over 1,500 in our state have died.
Iowa has emerged as having a 50% COVID-19 testing positivity rate in the last week — the singular worst rate in the country.
KCRG: “The second-largest number of patients since the start of the pandemic entered hospitals in the last 24 hours of reporting due to the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, as more cases and deaths were added to the state’s totals.”
The White House Coronavirus Task Force and CDC recommend Iowa implement a mask mandate and enforce social distancing to bring down the rising case counts.
DMR: White House COVID experts tell Iowa: ‘It is critical that mitigation efforts increase’
DMR: “Iowa continues to have twice as many new coronavirus infections as the national average, and more Iowa cities and counties have been added to the list of ‘red zones,’ according to the latest report from the White House’s coronavirus task force.”
IPR: Iowa Governor Rejects White House Task Force Recommendations As Coronavirus Cases Surge
Reynolds’ cherry-picked data is putting Iowans at risk — especially in schools and long-term care facilities.
KCCI: “State data shows 55 long-term care facilities report virus outbreaks in the state, up from 52 the previous day. There are 1,130 positive cases and 636 recoveries within those facilities. There have been 716 deaths within Iowa’s long-term care facilities, accounting for more than half of the state’s COVID-19 deaths. Polk County reports five facilities with virus outbreaks.”
DMR: Four in 10 Iowa school districts don’t require masks, even where COVID-19 rates are surging
“Iowans are getting sick from COVID-19 at the highest rate in the nation and setting new daily records for hospitalizations, yet Governor Reynolds and Trump still ignore the science,” said IDP Chair Mark Smith. “The bottom line is that the crisis did not have to be this bad. Trump understood the severity of this virus, and he intentionally misled and lied to the American people about it with Governor Reynolds and the GOP following his every move. He is incapable and unwilling to lead our nation out of this pandemic, and Democrats are the only leaders with a plan to save lives and build our country back better.”