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The country registers on average more than 158,000 new cases per day, the highest to date of the pandemic; more than 76,000 people are hospitalized with the virus across the country, far more than previous peaks; and deaths are on the rise again. President Trump has largely ceded the response to the pandemic to governors, and the states where the virus is emerging at the highest rate – North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa – are all led by Republicans.
In Iowa, Ms Reynolds had faced pressure for months – from mayors, doctors, nurses and farmers, who feared the spike in cases could lead to chain disruptions. food supply in a state where agriculture and meat processing are major industries.
Like most other governors, Ms Reynolds closed businesses in the spring, but she resisted issuing a stay-at-home order and did not need masks when communities reopened.
Today, as the virus sweeps across the Midwest, more than 4,100 people test positive for the virus in Iowa every day on average, an 86% increase in the past two weeks. Hospitalizations have doubled over the same period and coronavirus patients now account for one in four hospitalizations in the state.
The crisis led to a significant movement last week, when the Iowa State Board of Health, whose members were appointed by Ms Reynolds, urged her to issue a mask warrant. The board vote was itself a sign of how the growing toll of the virus has forced people to change their thinking. Council members, most of whom are Republicans and work in the healthcare industry, had discussed face covers in previous meetings but were not in favor of a term.
At the last meeting, however, they voted 7-2 to encourage the governor to issue the ordinance.
“Circumstances have changed enough in Iowa,” said Chris Atchison, vice chairman of the board, who said he could only recall one other instance where members made a recommendation to the board. governor during his more than three years on the board.
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