FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

CONTACT: press@iowademocrats.org

Iowa Democratic Party Statement on Surpassing 1,000 COVID-19 Deaths in Iowa

DES MOINESIowa Democratic Party Chair Mark Smith released the following statement as Iowa surpassed 1,000 confirmed deaths from COVID-19 complications:

“This morning, we woke up to a state where over 1,000 of our neighbors and fellow Iowans have died from COVID-19. Every single person that passed away left behind loved ones, family members, and a community that will never be the same. The coronavirus crisis has ripped through our state and created unthinkable tragedies as over 53,000 Iowans have contracted the virus — and the pandemic is not yet slowing down.

“It didn’t have to be this bad, but our leaders failed us on every level imaginable. Donald Trump refused to take coronavirus seriously, offer resources to states, or follow CDC guidance while Kim Reynolds blindly followed in lock-step with his chaotic mishandling and refused to stand up for Iowans. While other countries have COVID-19 under control, the U.S. still has surging cases across the country because of Trump and the GOP’s failed leadership. Iowans are tough, and we’ll get through the coronavirus pandemic together, but we deserve better from our leaders.”