NEWS. >> A REMINDER YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS IS AVAILABLE EVERY EVENING ON CBS.COM. LET’S >> LISTEN IN TODAY. >>A TOTAL OF 12,000 NEGATIVE CASES. THE STATE HYGIENIC LAB HAS THE CAPACITY TO TEST 1329 INDIVIDUALS. WE HAVE 122 HOSPITALIZED AS OF LAST EVENING AND 431 RECOVERED. AS COVID-19 CASES CONTINUE TO CLIMB, WHICH IS PROJECTED TO HAPPEN LATER THIS MONTH, WE REMAIN FOCUSED ON MITIGATION TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF ISLANDS, ENSURE THE WORKFORCE IS STABLE, AND SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS TO SAVE LIVES. WE ARE LOOKING AHEAD TO ASSURE THE HEALTH OF OUR ECONOMY. AS WE SEE THE RATES OF POSITIVE CASES DECREASE OVER TIME, WE WILL DIAL UP OUR ECONOMIC RESPONSE EFFORTS. CURRENTLY WE ARE LEVERAGING STATE AND FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO WORKERS AND BUSINESSES NOW AND GET THEM THROUGH THIS CHALLENGING TIME UNTIL WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AGAIN. TWO WEEKS AGO WE ANNOUNCED THE SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF PROGRAM FOR IOWA BUSINESSES TO SEEK ASSISTANCE THROUGH TAX DEFERRALS AND GRANTS TO ASSIST WITH SHORT-TERM CASH FLOW NEEDS. THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE HAS RECEIVED 5700 APPLICATIONS AND EXPECTS TO APPROVE ANOTHER 2300 THIS WEEK WHILE REVIEWING THE REST. ALL APPLICANTS IN GOOD STANDING WILL BE APPROVED AND NOTIFIED BY MAIL. WHEN A DEFERRAL IS GRANTED, TAXPAYERS WILL HAVE 60 DAYS TO PAY THEIR BALANCE, PENALTIES AND INTEREST WILL BE WAIVED FOR THOSE 60 DAYS. THE APPLICATION PROCESS REMAINS OPEN THROUGH APRIL. THE SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF PROGRAM GRANTS WERE ALSO IN HIGH DEMAND. THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY RECEIVED NEARLY 14,000 APPLICATIONS FROM BUSINESSES REQUESTING A TOTAL OF 148 MILLION DOLLARS IN ASSISTANCE. I’M EXPANDING THE PROGRAM FROM ITS ORIGINAL FORM MILLION TO $24 MILLION WHICH WILL BE RIGHTED TO THE STATE ECONOMIC EMERGENCY FUND. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE FIRST ROUND OF FUNDING WILL ASSIST MORE THAN 500 RESTAURANTS, BARS, THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY COVID-19. THESE BUSINESSES WERE AMONG THE FIRST TO CLOSE THEIR NORMAL OPERATION AND IT IS OUR GOAL TO GET THEM UP AND RUNNING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. HERE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE ECONOMIC AUTHORITY. >> THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING TO ALL. THE HEALTH HAS BEEN IN MANY OF OUR PRAYERS, INCLUDING MY OWN. THERE IS NO LARGER PRIORITY FOR OUR STATE. I WANT TO GIVE A THANK YOU TO FIRST RESPONDERS, THE HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH YESTERDAY AND FRONTLINE WORKERS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT IN ASSISTING US IN THESE CHALLENGING DAYS. OUR TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY BEHIND THE SCENES TO ASSIST AS MANY OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES AS POSSIBLE AS THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR DOORS OR SEEN REVENUES DROP. ACTUALLY OUR TEAM HAS SPOKEN WITH OR EMAILED A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS FROM EVERY INDUSTRY SECTOR. TO OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, WE HEARD YOU. WE HEARD YOUR STORIE ABOUT YOUR BUSINESSES OR VENTURE. WE SAW IT IN YOUR DETAILED EMAILS AND WE WITNESSED IT IN YOUR APPLICATIONS. I’M HERE TO ASSURE YOU, JUDGING BY THE THOUSANDS OF PHONE CALLS WE RESPONDED TO, IT REINFORCES WHAT WE KNOW, OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR TO LEVERAGE RESOURCES TO ASSIST AS MANY OF THEM AS POSSIBLE. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS. WE HAVE RECEIVED 14,000 GRANT APPLICATIONS. INCLUDING 15 FROM EVERY COUNTY. EVERY APPLICATION WAS TRIAGED. I USE THIS WORD BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY DESCRIBES THIS ENTIRE EFFORT AND PROCESS. WE DETERMINED ELIGIBILITY AND THE BUSINESSES IDENTIFYING THE GREATEST REVENUE DISRUPTION IN THIS FIRST ROUND OF FUNDING. AS A REMINDER, THIS PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO BE SHORT-TERM, STOPGAP FUNDING UNTIL THE FEDERAL RESOURCES BECAME IDENTIFIED OR AVAILABLE. THE FIRST ROUND OF THE NOTIFICATIONS HAVE GONE OUT TO BUSINESS OWNERS AND ADDITIONAL ONES WILL GO OUT THE REMAINDER OF THIS WEEK. THE INITIAL ROUND OF FUNDING TOTALED MORE THAN $10 MILLION WITH GRANTS FROM 5-25,000. AS OF THIS MORNING, WE HAVE HALF OF THOSE WITH SIGNED CONTRACTS AND I’M IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE CHECKS. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS THAT DON’T RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING ROUNDS IN THE FUTURE. A NEW APPLICATION WILL NOT BE OPENED. I ENCOURAGE ALL IOWA BUSINESS OWNERS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY COVID-19 TO VISIT IOWA BUSINESS RECOVERY.COM FOR INFORMATION ABOUT ALL PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES WE WILL HAVE AVAILABLE THAT TOUCH ON BUSINESS RELIEF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE FOR THEIR EFFORT, FOR THE EFFORT DO YOUR TEAMS HAVE PUT FORTH TO HELP IOWANS AT THIS TIME. THERE IS NO PLAYBOOK FOR THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW. YOUR WILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE RELIEF UNTIL WE GET THINGS BACK UP AND RUNNING IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR SO MANY BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES. JUST A HEARTFELT THANK YOU. SO YESTERDAY I DID ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT SOME OF THE DATA WE ARE TRACKING TO ENSURE OUR HOSPITALS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED. AS THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE CASES CONTINUES TO INCREASE, SIX CENTER HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE NATIONAL GUARD TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ARC HEALTH CARE COALITIONS. THEY HELP FACILITATE COMMUNICATION, INFORMATION SHARING, AND COORDINATION OF HEALTH CARE RESOURCES WITH ANY REGION OR ACROSS THE STATE AS NEEDED. TODAY I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT ADDITIONAL REGIONS AND PROVIDE A SNAPSHOT OF RESOURCES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN USE FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO CARE FOR OTHERS. WE WILL START WITH REGION ONE. THE REGION IS LOCATED IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE AND INCLUDES THE DES MOINES METRO AREA. AS OF YESTERDAY, THERE WERE 33 COVID-19 PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED IN REGION ONE. NO NEW PATIENTS WERE ADMITTED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS. THEY HAVE 11 NICUS AND SIX ON VENTILATORS. AT THE SAME TIME THERE WERE 1433 INPATIENT BEDS AVAILABLE. 221 VENTILATORS AVAILABLE AND READY. IN REGION NUMBER TWO, WHICH COVERS CENTRAL AND NORTH CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE, THEY HAVE PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED YESTERDAY. NO NEW PATIENTS WERE ADMITTED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS. ONE PATIENT WAS CARED FOR IN ICU AND ONE WAS ON A VENTILATOR. THERE WERE 231 BEDS AVAILABLE. 26 VENTILATORS IN THOSE HOSPITALS. JUST AS WE SAW YESTERDAY, VOLUME IS MANAGEABLE AND RESOURCES ARE IN GOOD SUPPLY. YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THE NUMBER OF BEDS IS LESS AND THE SECOND REGION COMPARED TO THE OTHERS. NORTH CENTRAL IOWA HAS A SMALLER POPULATION. THE HOSPITALS THERE ARE SMALLER. THEY HAVE FEWER RESOURCES THAN THE URBAN AREAS. IF A FACILITY EXPERIENCES AN INCREASE IN PATIENTS AND NEEDS EQUIPMENT, WE WILL FACILITATE GETTING IT TO THEM. IN ADDITION, IF A PATIENT NEEDS A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE, THAT IS WHAT IS AVAILABLE LOCALLY. THEY CAN BE TRANSPORTED TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL IN THE SAME REGION OR ELSEWHERE. THIS IS THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING THE MODEL NOW SO WE ARE READY TO RESPOND TO ANY SITUATION THAT MAY UNFOLD. AGAIN I WANT TO THANK THE NATIONAL GUARD AND DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, HOMELAND SECURITY AND OTHER OFFICIALS AND THE HEALTH CARE COALITION PARTNERS FOR WORKING TOGETHER AS ONE SYSTEM OF CARE. AS I’VE SAID WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THEY ARE DOING TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS TO PREVENT OVERWHELMING OUR HOSPITAL FACILITIES AND TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND THE MOST VULNERABLE AND ALSO THAT WE ARE PREPARED IN THE CASE WE SEE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBERS. WE WILL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS. >> I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THE SPENDING ON THE BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM. IS IT CORRECT THE FIRST ROUND OF FUNDING WENT OUT THE DOOR LAST NIGHT? AND SO YOU ARE EXPANDING THE PROGRAM. I BELIEVE THAT IS THROUGH THE AUTHORITY OF LEGISLATURE GAVE YOU. HAVE YOU USED ANY AUTHORITY FOR OTHER SPENDING PURPOSES? HOW DOES THE FEDERAL MONEY COME IN? >> SO AS WE INDICATED WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD ALL THE GUIDELINES FROM THE CARES ACT SO WE WERE USING THE MONEY APPROPRIATELY UNTIL IT WAS BACKFILLED OR SUPPLEMENTED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET ON. MY CHIEF OF STAFF WAS ON A CALL THIS MORNING. IOWA WILL GET 1.2 $5 BILLION IN A BLOCK GRANT. THEY ARE ANTICIPATING ROLES NEXT WEEK. ONE OF THE THINGS THE GOVERNORS HAVE ASKED FOR AND WAS RELAYED ON THE PHONE CALL THIS MORNING IS THE FLEXIBILITY, AS LONG AS IT IS TIED TO COVID, TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND ASK FOR FUNDS, KNOWING AS THE MONEY COMES IN, WE WILL APPLY THAT BETWEEN THE MONEY WE WERE ABLE TO GET TWO MORE BUSINESSES IN A TIMELY MANNER. WE WILL HAVE THAT ARE GUIDANCE NEXT WEEK. I ANTICIPATE THEY ARE TRYING TO BE AS FLEXIBLE AS POSSIBLE. IF WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO WORK WITH THE ECONOMIC ELEMENT AUTHORITY FOR THAT STOPGAP, UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO GO ONLINE AND APPLY THROUGH THE SMALL BUSINESS LOAN OPPORTUNITIES. >> LET ME CLARIFY, LAST NIGHT THE APPLICATIONS WE SENT OUT WAS OVER $10 MILLION. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER TRANCHE GOING OUT. >> THE TOTAL IS $148 MILLION. YOU DON’T HAVE THAT. 24 IS THAT CUT OFF FOR US. >> FOR RIGHT NOW UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND HOW WE CAN UTILIZE THAT. IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER LOANS THEY HAVE AVAILABLE TO SOME OF THE BUSINESSES. >> GOVERNOR, YOU GAVE OUT THE NEW NUMBERS, HOW ENCOURAGED ARE YOU BY THOSE NUMBERS? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT HOSPITALS? ARE THEY PREPARED? ARE WE READY FOR WHATEVER MIGHT COME DOWN THE ROAD? >> I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION BEING SUPPLIED TO OUR TEAM. WE ARE ABLE TO TRACK ON A DAILY BASIS THE NUMBER OF BEDS BEING UTILIZED AND THE NUMBER OF VENTILATORS. WE CAN PUT THAT INTO THE PROJECTIONS. WE ARE PREPARING FOR THE WORST, BUT I AM OPTIMISTIC WE ARE ANTICIPATING A PEEK AT THE END OF THE MONTH. AGAIN, 10% ARE HOSPITALIZED RIGHT NOW. THAT IS A GOOD NUMBER. THE NUMBER THAT GIVES US A LOT OF HOPE IS THE 30% OF POSITIVE CASES HAVE RECOVERED. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS IS POSITIVE CASES HAVE BEEN STAGNANT. THEY STAY PRETTY MUCH THE SAME. THAT HAS BEEN OUR GOAL, TO REALLY FLATTEN THE CURVE. NOT OVERWHELMED THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM WHILE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE IOWANS BY EVERYONE DOING WHAT THEY CAN DO, STAY HOME, REDUCE YOUR TRIPS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES, THE DOCTOR FOR GROCERIES, TO PICK UP MEDICINE, EXERCISE, BUT DO IT RESPOND -- RESPONSIBLY. DO NOT GATHER IN GROUPS OF MORE THAN 10. IF YOU ARE SICK, ISOLATE YOURSELF. WE ARE SEEING SOME OF THE REFLECTION OF THAT. HOPEFULLY WE WILL TURN THE CORNER AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOW WE DIAL BACK UP THE ECONOMY. DO YOU HAVE SPECIFICITY AS TO WHEN THE PEAK WILL COME? WHAT DATA IS GOING INTO THAT? >> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. WE DO CONTINUE OUR WORK IN TERMS OF ANALYZING THE DATA. ONE THING WE RECOGNIZE AND HAVE TALKED ABOUT IS THAT SOME OF THE PROJECTIONS WILL BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE’VE HAD A LIMITED NUMBER OF TESTS. THAT IS SOMETHING WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON EVERY DAY IN TERMS OF INCREASE CAPACITY. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO DEVELOP THOSE MODELS. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW IS TO PREPARE. AND TO FLATTEN THAT CURVE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND UNDERSTAND OUR RESOURCES, UNDERSTAND THE PLANS SHOULD WE START TO SEE INCREASED HOSPITALIZATIONS IN OUR STATE. WE ARE FOCUSED ON THAT. WE ARE DOING THAT EVERY DAY. WE ASK THEM TO DO IT THE GOVERNOR HAS DO, PUBLIC HEALTH, I THINK WE WILL BE IN GOOD SHAPE. >> IS IT SAFE TO SAY WE HAVE ENOUGH VENTILATORS AND BEDS? OR ARE YOU STILL LOOKING FOR MORE OF THAT? >> THE PPE SHORTAGES ARE REAL. THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND STATE AGENCIES HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURING FACILITIES LOOKING TO HELP INCREASE THE SUPPLY PPE. WE FEEL GOOD FROM A RESOURCE STANDPOINT IN TERMS OF BEDS AND VENTILATORS. CRITICAL TO ALL OF THIS, IT’S IMPORTANT FOR ALL IOWANS TO STAY HOME, LEAVE FOR ESSENTIALS. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS AND MAKE SURE OUR HOSPITALS HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DEAL WITH PATIENTS THAT ARE ILL. >> THAT IS HOW WE REALLY PROTECT HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS AND ESSENTIAL WORKFORCE THAT IS OUT THERE ON THE FRONT LINE EVERY DAY TAKING CARE OF ISLANDS. THE MORE WE DO OUR PART BY BEING RESPONSIBLE, YOU ARE HELPING SAVE LIVES, YOU ARE HELPING PROTECT OUR HEALTH CARE TAKING CARE OF THOSE MOST VULNERABLE IN THE HOSPITAL. CONTINUE DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING. FOR THOSE FEW THAT AREN’T, DO YOUR PART. TOGETHER WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS AND WE CAN HONESTLY, THESE PRESS CONFERENCE WE CAN TALK ABOUT DIALING THINGS UP. I KNOW THAT IS WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO BE. IF WE DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WE WILL GET THERE SOONER THAN LATER. >> ARE YOU THERE? >> GOVERNOR, I WANTED TO ASK WITH THE NICE WEATHER, WE ARE HEARING REPORTS OF CROWDED TRAILS FOR HIKING. DIFFICULT TO MANAGE SOCIAL DISTANCING. SOME OFFICIALS ARE CONSIDERING CLOSING THEIR TRAILS TO THE PUBLIC TEMPORARILY UNTIL YOU GET THE COVID CURVE FLATTENING. ISA DOWN THE RADAR AT THE STATE LEVEL TO CONSIDER CLOSING THOSE TRAILS OR EXPANDING RECREATION SPACES? >> I HOPE NOT. WE NEED THAT FOR OUR MENTAL WELL-BEING, KIDS AND FAMILIES TO GET OUTDOORS. PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING OF SIX FEET. KEVIN AND I WENT FOR A WALK. WE BOTH SPLIT ON THE SIDEWALK AND PRACTICED SOCIAL DISTANCING. THE OTHER OPTION IS TO TAKE A MASK WITH YOU SO IF IT BECOMES A PROBLEM, YOU ARE PROTECTED. WE ARE TRYING TO BE RESPONSIBLE WHILE ALWAYS MINDFUL OF THE NEED OF THE PPE. THE MASK, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE IS A SECONDARY PRACTICE. FIRST AND FOREMOST YOU NEED TO PRACTICE THE SOCIAL DISTANCING AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. >> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS NOTION OF STAYING HOME AND NOT GATHERING IN GROUPS OF 10. CAN YOU CLARIFY, THE GROUPS OF 10, THAT SEEMS IN CONFLICT OF STAYING HOME. PEOPLE COULD SAY A GROUP OF FEWER THAN 10 PEOPLE CAN COME TO MY HOUSE FOR DINNER PARTIES SO LONG AS IT IS 10 OR LESS. >> I WOULD NOT DO THAT IF I WERE YOU. I AM NOT SUGGESTING THAT. WE HAVE AN ORDER YOU CAN’T SOCIALLY GATHER. BE RESPONSIBLE. THE FIRST THING, STAY-AT-HOME. THAT IS HOW YOU LIMIT EXPOSURE, EVERYBODY HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE. WE ARE GOING TO GET TOGETHER THIS EASTER VIA ZOOM. WE ARE USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO CONNECT. WE ARE NOT GETTING TOGETHER. WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO STAY AT HOME, LIMIT GOING OUT EXCEPT FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES. IF WE DO THIS, WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS SOONER THAN LATER. WE NOTICED A 17% JUMP IN HOSPITALIZATIONS. I WONDER IF THAT IS TELLING US ANYTHING ABOUT THE SEVERITY OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT MIGHT SUGGEST DATA WISE WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF? >> I WILL LET SARAH TALK ABOUT THAT. >> IN TERMS OF THAT DATA, IT’S A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY THE DATA IS COLLECTED. PREVIOUSLY WE HAD BEEN ASKING AGENCIES TO FOLLOW UP WITH PATIENTS TO DETERMINE HOSPITALIZATION STATUS. OVER THE WEEKEND, WE PUT OUT A NEW REPORTING ORDER AND WE ARE ASKING HOSPITALS TO REPORT THAT INFORMATION DIRECTLY. THE INTENT IS SO WE HAVE A MORE TIMELY INFORMATION ABOUT OUR NUMBER OF PATIENTS. SOME OF THEM WERE PENDING INVESTIGATION BY AGENCIES. WE ALSO WANTED TO HAVE MORE TIMELY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE RATES WERE. YOU HEARD THE GOVERNOR MENTION WE HAVE ABOUT 10% OF OUR TOTAL CASES THAT ARE HOSPITALIZED AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THAT IS CONSISTENT AND MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN NATIONALLY WITH A 15-20% RATE. WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS NOT A JUMP IN HOSPITALIZATIONS, IT IS JUST MORE TIMELY REPORTING SO WE HAVE A MORE ACCURATE PICTURE. >> NEXT QUESTION, RACHEL, CHANNEL FIVE. >> YOUR TEAM TOLD ME YESTERDAY INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITIES ARE NOT MONITORED IN THE SAME WAY AS LONG-TERM CARE. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THAT IS AND ALSO THREE EMPLOYEES AT THE VETERANS HOME HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. WHAT IS THE STATE DOING TO RESPOND TO THIS? >> AT THE VETERANS HOME? I WILL TALK ABOUT INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITIES. ACTUALLY THE COMMANDANT HAS BEEN PROACTIVE IN EDUCATING STAFF BASED ON THE DEPARTMENT GUIDELINES. THEY HAVE RESTRICTED VISITORS MARCH 15 IS WHEN THEY STARTED DOING THAT. ALL OF THE STAFF IS SCREENED FOR RESPIRATORY SYSTEMS. THEY TAKE A TEMPERATURE SCAN WHEN THEY ARE COMING AND LEAVING. ANYBODY THAT HAS TESTED POSITIVE, ANYBODY THAT THEY HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH THEY ARE TESTING OUTSIDE OF THE FACILITY WITH A DRIVE-UP TEST. THEY ARE KEEPING THEM ISOLATED UNTIL THE GET THE TEST BACK. AS OF TODAY, THEY HAVE 25 TESTED, 19 NEGATIVE. THEY HAVE TESTED 25 RESIDENTS AND THEY HAD ZERO THAT ARE POSITIVE. THE STAFF MEMBER THAT WAS TESTED POSITIVE ON THE 26TH HAD NO CONTACT WITH ANY RESIDENTS. THE STAFF THAT TESTED POSITIVE ON THE 27TH WAS THE 17TH OF MARCH. SHE WASN’T A DIRECT CARE PROVIDER. SO THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TEST ANYBODY SHE HAD COME AND TALK TACT WITH. AND AGAIN, THE LAST ONE, THE LAST DAY OF WORK WAS MARCH 29. THEY MADE SURE THOSE THAT HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH NEW IT AND WERE WATCHING FOR SYMPTOMS AND TESTED IF THEY SAW SYMPTOMS. ALL DIRECT CARE STAFF ARE EXPECTED TO WEAR SURGICAL MASKS AND FACE SHIELDS AT ALL TIMES WHEN DEALING WITH RESIDENTS. THE NONDIRECT CARE PROVIDERS ARE REQUIRED TO USE HOMEMADE MASKS AND IF THEY WOULD LIKE A SHIELD, THOSE ARE PROVIDED AS WELL. I WILL ASK SARAH TO TALK ABOUT LONG-TERM CARE. >> THANK YOU. ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW ABOUT THIS VIRUS, IT SPREADS QUICKLY IN SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE CLOSE CONTACT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LONG-TERM CARE OUTBREAKS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES WHERE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PATIENTS LIVING CLOSELY FROM INDEPENDENT LIVING WHERE RESIDENTS MIGHT HAVE THEIR OWN APARTMENT. AND SO IT IS NOT THAT WE DON’T FOLLOW UP AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE TO INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITIES, BUT WHEN WE ARE REPORTING A LONG-TERM OUTBREAK, IT IS MORE IN TERMS OF TRADITIONAL NURSING HOME, A NUMBER OF PATIENTS IN CLOSE QUARTERS WITH ONE ANOTHER. BECAUSE WE KNOW THE VIRUS IS SO CONTAGIOUS, WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN CLOSE QUARTERS, LIKE THAT, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE REFERRING TO WHEN WE HAVE AN OUTBREAK. IT DOESN’T MEAN PUBLIC HEALTH IS NOT DOING EVERYTHING WE WOULD NORMALLY IN TERMS OF CONTACTING PATIENTS, CONTACTING PEOPLE THEY MAY HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH LIKE MEMBERS OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD IF THEY ARE IN AN INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITY SITUATION. IT IS MORE YOUR TRADITIONAL NURSING HOMES. THE OTHER THING WE HAVE SEEN IS A QUARTER OF THE CASES IN IOWA ARE WITHIN A HOUSEHOLD UNIT, A FAMILY UNIT. WHERE WE HAVE A MEMBER OF A HOUSEHOLD THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A POSITIVE CASE, A QUARTER OF THOSE CASES HAVE IN PEOPLE THEY ARE LIVING WITH. THAT IS THE OTHER REASON WE PROVIDE GUIDANCE IF YOU DO HAVE A POSITIVE TEST RESULT, THOSE PEOPLE NEED TO ISOLATE THEMSELVES AND WE PROVIDE THE SAME GUIDANCE TO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES. SICK RESIDENTS NEED TO BE SEGREGATED FROM THE REST OF THE POPULATION. WE KNOW THIS VIRUS SPREADS WEEKLY. >> THANK YOU, GOVERNOR. ONE PERSON SAID THE STATE HAD BASICALLY TORTURED CHILDREN IN THAT FACILITY. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT YOUR RESPONSE IS TO THOSE FINDINGS AND TALK ABOUT THE TESTING THAT IS TAKING PLACE AT THAT FACILITY AND WHETHER ANYONE HAS TESTED POSITIVE? >> THAT GOES BACK TO 2017, IF NOT PRIOR, AND WE ARE, IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE. WE ARE WORKING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE. I WANT TO THANK THE DIRECT YOUR FOR THE STEPS SHE HAS TAKEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE SITUATION RESOLVED. SHE CONTINUES TO BE ON THE GROUND WORKING WITH THE STAFF AND WORKING WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND LEGAL TEAM AS TO WHAT WE DO MOVING FORWARD. I’M NOT SURE, I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON TESTING. WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THAT. I AM NOT SURE WHAT STEPS THE WOR THANK YOU TO DIRECTOR GARCIA FOR THE STEPS SHE HAS TAKEN TO CORRECT THE PREVIOUS ACTIONS. >> I HAVE QUESTIONS AROUND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES. THOSE ARE OF HIGH CONCERN GIVEN THE CLOSE LIVING QUARTERS AND HOW CONTAGIOUS THESE CASES ARE. WHY NOT IDENTIFY LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES THAT HAVE HAD ONE CASE, LIKE MINNESOTA HAS DONE, SO THERE ARE NOT TO PUT CONCERNS WITH DOING SO. THE SECOND PART, IS THERE AN EFFORT TO DO TESTING OF ASYMPTOMATIC RESIDENTS AT THESE HOMES? ARE THERE OTHER STEPS TO GET AHEAD OF A POTENTIAL OUTBREAK? >> THEY HAVE BEEN VERY PROACTIVE. WE HAVE OVER 440 FOUR LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES. WE IDENTIFIED VERY EARLY ON, BEFORE A LOT OF STATES, THAT WAS A POTENTIAL RISK FOR US. THAT IS WHERE SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE WERE AT WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS. WORKING WITH THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDERS ACROSS THE STATE, THEY HAVE BEEN VERY PROACTIVE IN ELIMINATING VISITORS, SCREENING THEIR STAFF AND WORKING DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE PPE THEY NEED WHILE THEY ARE SERVING SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE. AND TAKING EVERY EFFORT TO PROTECT THOSE IOWAN. SARAH WILL TALK ABOUT TESTING. >> CERTAINLY WE HAVE DEFINED AN OUTBREAK AS EVIDENCE OF TRANSMISSION IN A FACILITY OF THE VIRUS. THAT IS WHY IF WE WOULD HAVE A SINGLE CASE, WE WOULD NOT CONSIDER THAT TO BE AN OUTBREAK UNTIL WE HAD EVIDENCE TRANSMISSION OF THE VIRUS WAS OCCURRING IN THE FACILITY. I OUTLINED ALL OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN ASKING LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES TO DO WHEN THEY DO HAVE A POSITIVE CASE IDENTIFIED IN THEIR FACILITY. THAT INCLUDES SCREENING PATIENTS FOR FEVER AND COUGH, BREATHING PROBLEMS. WE HAVE ADVISED THE USE OF PPE WITH ALL PATIENT INTERACTIONS IN A LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY. OUR GOAL IS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE INFECTION WITHIN THOSE FACILITIES. IF WE CAN DO THAT, WE WOULD NOT CONSIDER THERE TO BE AN OUTBREAK. WHEN WE GET THREE OR MORE CONFIRMED CASES, THAT IS THE STANDARD WE ARE USING FOR AN OUTBREAK. >> LAST QUESTION. GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING. GOVERNOR, DES MOINES SCHOOLS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO DO DISTANCE-LEARNING BEYOND THE SUGGESTION APRIL 30. THEY WILL DO IT THE REST OF THE YEAR. CAN YOU TELL THE REMAINING DISTRICTS WHEN YOU THINK YOU WILL DECIDE WHETHER YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE STEP TO RECOMMEND SHUTTING DOWN SCHOOLS THE REST OF THE YEAR FOR EVERYBODY’S SAFETY? AND WHAT ROLE DO YOU SEE AT THE STATE TO HELP FAMILIES THAT DON’T CURRENTLY HAVE THE ABILITY AT A HOME TO DO THIS LAPTOP OR IPAD BASED LEARNING SO THEY DON’T FALL BEHIND? >> THANK. AS WE HAVE MADE ALL OF THE DECISIONS I HAVE MADE WHEN IT CAME TO RECOMMEND ENCLOSING OUR SCHOOLS AND EXTENDING AND MANDATING THE CLOSURE THROUGH APRIL 30, WITH THE REQUIREMENTS THEY DO VOLUNTARY OR REQUIRED CONTINUOUS LEARNING AND THEY NEED TO SIGN-UP THROUGH APRIL 10. WE WOULD WAIVE THE HOURS THROUGH APRIL 30. I ALSO TOLD THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, I JUMPED ON A CONFERENCE CALL, I KNOW IT IS IMPORTANT WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE DECISIONS. SO WITHIN TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE 30TH, WE WILL SIT DOWN WITH THE TEAM AND DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE EXPERTS TO SEE WHERE WE ARE AT AND I WOULD GIVE THEM A HEADS UP TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE SO WE CAN SEE WHICH DIRECTION WE THOUGHT WE NEEDED TO GO MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS. THAT’S ANOTHER, I AM LOSING TRACK. IT’S ANOTHER WEEK WE WILL SIT DOWN AND LOOK AT THE DATA AND GIVE THEM SOME IDEA WHICH DIRECTION WE ARE RECOMMENDING THEY GO. THE OTHER THING WE HAVE ASKED FROM ALL OF THEM IS THAT IF THERE’S THINGS YOU NEED, MAYBE YOU DON’T HAVE BROADBAND, LAPTOPS, WHATEVER, TO LET THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NO. THEY HAVE A WEBSITE. THEY ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE DIRECTOR. IF THERE ARE THINGS PREVENTING YOU FROM PROVIDING THAT EDUCATION FOR YOUR STUDENTS, LET US KNOW. WE WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDING LAPTOPS, OR WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO PROVIDE HOTSPOTS. THERE’S A LOT OF THINGS WE ARE LOOKING AT. PEOPLE ARE BEING CREATIVE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING CONTINUOUS EDUCATION TO STUDENTS.