Governor Reynolds defends Test Iowa program from criticisms

The private companies which are operating the Test Iowa program for coronavirus testing on behalf of the State of Iowa are getting paid $26 million for their work.

But the Des Moines Register is reporting that the Linn County Public Health staff in Cedar Rapids has sent a letter to Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds stating that the Cedar Rapids testing branch of the program claimed it did 823 tests from May 7th until May 18th at the Cedar Rapids location--but the Linn County Health Department received results from just 20 tests--and 16 of those results were that the tests were "inconclusive."

Governor Reynolds on Thursday defended the program, says it had tested "more than 3,000" people in Iowa since Monday and had another 700 tests scheduled for Thursday.

Reynolds also announced that starting Thursday, the Test Iowa program could be used by anyone--and not just emergency workers such as law enforcement and medical workers.