"Encouraging signs," but don't let up, says Governor Reynolds

While 113 additional Iowans have been diagnosed as having the COVID-19 virus, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds told reporters Monday she sees some "encouraging signs," although she cautions Iowa residents about becoming more relaxed.

1,710 Iowans have now been confirmed to have the coronavirus, but Reynolds says the severity of their cases has gone down.  She also announced that Iowa is doing well with the supply of ICU beds and ventilators.

But Reynolds didn't want the news to make Iowans stop doing what they're doing now to fight the coronavirus.  She said health officials are still anticipating the peak in the number of cases is yet to come and might not happen until the end of April.

82 out of Iowa's 99 counties have now reported at least one case of COVID-19, with Cass County being the latest to get added to the list.  Of the 18,696 Iowans who have been tested for COVID-19, 1,710 have tested positive—meaning 92 percent of Iowa tested for the disease have had negative results.

One hot spot for coronavirus cases, however, has been long term care facilities across the state, with the virus having "devastating consequences" at several homes, Reynolds said.  She said the state has been working to make sure health care workers are working at just one facility and not multiple facilities, so the risk of spreading the disease from location to location is lessened.