COVID-19 cases hold steady in Winneshiek County, but Iowa adds 467 new patients

The number of COVID-19 cases in Winneshiek County remains at 15 confirmed cases, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.  That's the same figure which was reported yesterday for Winneshiek county.

However, statewide the number of confirmed cases has reached 6,843.  That's an increase of 467 new positive cases from the previous day.  Worse yet, 12 Iowans have died from COVID-19, which is the highest single day total yet.

That led to some pointed questions at Governor Kim Reynold's morning news conference Wednesday, with several reporters asking her why she is lifting restrictions while the death toll is rising.  "I didn't just rip the bandaid off and turn on the light switch," she replied at one point, saying that the 22 counties which have not had restrictions lifted account for 93 percent of all COVID-19 cases in Iowa.

When questioned whether she would be attending services at her church on Sunday, she said her church is continuing to hold online only worship services, but said the lifting of restrictions to allow in-person church services and other activities "is not a mandate—it's an option."