https://www.desmoinesregister.com/s...kim-reynolds-cases-covid-outbreak/4954032002/
Three people in Iowa tested presumptively positive for the novel coronavirus, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Sunday night, marking the first time the virus has been detected in the state.
The three people, who live in Johnson County, tested positive for the virus after returning March 3 from a cruise that traveled through Egypt, Reynolds told reporters at an evening news conference.
"While this news is concerning, it's not cause for alarm," Reynolds said from the Capitol. "The most important thing that we can do right now is to remain calm, understand the situation and stay informed in the days and weeks ahead."
State officials, for now, said Iowans do not need to take additional or special precautions other than routine advice, recommending residents continue to wash their hands with soap and water, cover their coughs and sneezes and stay home when sick.
We're still in the early stages of gathering all the information necessary to fully assess the situation and prepare for the next steps," Reynolds said while surrounded by officials from the Department of Public Health, the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and the Iowa National Guard. "As soon as we know more, you'll know more."
The cases in Iowa are considered presumptive until the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms the test results.
The three were on a cruise
The cruise that the three Iowans were on ran from Feb. 17 to March 2, according to Gerd Clabaugh, director of the Iowa Department of Public Health. All three returned to their residences on March 3. They later sought health care services after feeling ill and were sent home.
"The three are currently isolated in their homes," Clabaugh said. "Public health and health care partners are doing what they're trained and equipped to do to protect patients, themselves and the community."
Officials described one of the individuals who tested positive as middle-aged, between 41 and 60 years old, and the two others as older, between 61 and 80 years old. They said two had underlying health conditions and one did not.
Testing continues for others
The State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa said Friday that it has materials to test about 500 people. As of Sunday, the lab had tested just 37, according to state officials. Three have tested positive, 26 have tested negative and there are now 8 pending tests.
People in Iowa cannot request to be tested for the coronavirus at this point, according to Polly Carver-Kimm, a spokeswoman at the Iowa Department of Public Health. Instead, health care providers following guidelines around a person's symptoms must contact the department.
Officials in Iowa have said for weeks that the risk of contracting the virus in the state is low, in part because many of the early reported cases were linked to international travel in areas with large outbreaks.
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