Governor Reynolds Recommends School Closures, Area Schools Comply

Governor Kim Reynolds announced Sunday Night that she is recommending schools around the state close for 4 weeks due to issues related to coronavirus. 4 new cases of the virus were discovered announced Sunday. The Governor said based on new info from the Iowa Dept. Of Public Health now is the time to move to the next level of response. The governor recommends the closures so schools can mitigate the spread of the virus. She announced the 4 new cases Sunday bringing the total as of Sunday night to 22 cases in the state, of those cases one is a child. The counties with confirmed cases now include Johnson, Polk, Dallas, Carroll, Harrison, Pottawatmie and Allamakee. The Governor says community spread has now been reached. Community Spread occurs when those infected nor public health officials can specifically identify the source of infection, or how or where they became infected.  The CDC announced Sunday it is suggesting no gatherings of more than 50 people. The Mayor of Des Moines signed a state of emergency Sunday prohibiting gatherings of over 250 people.

Fort Dodge Schools released a statement Sunday night that due to the Governor’s recommendation to close schools they will not have school Monday March 16th or Tuesday March 17th. The rest of the week was already scheduled as spring break. They are awaiting further guidance from the Governor’s Office regarding next week. The district says All 260 day employees still need to report to work.  Following suit with Fort Dodge the following school districts have all closed for Monday Manson NW Webster, Southeast Valley, South Central Calhoun, North Union, Wes Bend-Mallard, Laurens-Marathon and Pocahontas Area. Laurens-Marathon school district stated they are closed Monday the 16th and teachers nor para-educators need to report to work. Humboldt/ Twin Rivers schools have closed from march 16th- April 13th and plan to reopen April 14th.