IOWA, USA — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds' daily press conference Monday, April 20, 2020 at 11 a.m. on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the state.
Iowa coronavirus updates:
- 257 new confirmed cases meaning 3,159 Iowans tested positive for the coronaviurs
- 4 more people died meaning 79 people in Iowa died
- 48% of deaths were people in long-term care facilities
- 10 outbreaks at long-term care facilities
Gov. Reynolds said Iowa can expect to see more clusters of outbreaks at meat processing facilities since the virus quickly spreads through groups of people in close contact with each other. Reynolds emphasized that workers at facilities such as Tyson Foods in Columbus Junction are essential to avoid food shortages or loss of animals.
The Iowa Department of Corrections announced on Saturday that an inmate tested positive for coronavirus for the first time.
Beth Skinner, director of the Iowa Department of Corrections, said mitigation efforts were put in place to slow the spread of the virus include screening inmates and canceling visitation rights. Inmates who show symptoms are immediately placed in quarantine.
An employee at the Iowa Medical Classification Center Correctional (IMCC) Facility tested positive for COVID-19, but IMCC does not believe there was exposure as the employee's last day at work was April 9.