COVID-19 UPDATE: 20 deaths, 264 new cases in Iowa

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good morning, we’ll go ahead and start with an update on the protest. Last night again, hundreds of people gathered in several communities across the state and peaceful protests to speak their mind and have their voices heard Thank you to all of those who exercise their right to protest in a peaceful and responsible way. At some events, agitators again attempted to detract from the message and resort to violence. While law enforcement disarmed most situations, damage did occur and arrest remain. These types of actions do absolutely nothing to create solutions and move forward, and they’re not going to be tolerated. I again want to thank the community leaders and law enforcement who have been on the front lines working so hard to establish and maintain a dialog and prevent violence and again allow peaceful protests to take place. Progress starts with each of us. It means listening and understanding and sometimes pushing the boundaries of our comfort zone. As I said yesterday, I’m committed to helping move these conversations forward towards action for change this morning. I also want to provide a brief status update on Iowa’s Cove in 19 response, nearly 100 and 64,000 Iowans have been tested for Corona virus for a per capita rate of one in 19. Our largest test day yet was last Saturday, May 30th when the state hygienic lab processed 5223 tests, surpassing our 5000 tests per day capacity. We also exceeded 5000 test again yesterday. The number of positive cases continue to trend down. Our average positivity rate over time now sets at 12.2% and yesterday’s rate was 6%. Last week we saw an increase in positive cases in beautiful to county as a test Iowa site opened and testing was conducted on long term care facilities and manufactured employees in the employees in the area. Currently, one in four residents in on a per capita and benefits to county have been tested and positive cases are beginning to trend down. Crawford County is another area where we open test Iowa to support surveillance testing in the community. One and nine residents on a per capita basis in the area have now been tested. Of the 528 total positive cases, 323 are now reported as recovered and positive cases are trending down. I’m also pleased to report that the state is partnering with the Iowa Emergency Management Association and county emergency manager statewide to distribute and build six regional PPE stockpiles to ensure regional and local preparedness for any future events. Stockpiles will have a 30 day supply of PPE for each county in the region. Additionally, as part of our ongoing PPE distribution efforts, the state is transitioning to providing a 14 day supply of PPE and support of county request. Previously, due to supply shortages, the state had only been able to fill PPE and smaller seven day supply quantities late last Friday afternoon. I did have the opportunity returned to my office here at the Capitol to prepare for this week. When I left in March to work from the State Emergency Operations Center, we were in the very early stages of understanding covert 19 what its impact would look like in Iowa and the best course of action for mitigating it spread and protecting Iowans. Returning was like opening a time capsule of sorts, with reminders of early planning meetings and conversations and discussions of PPE shortages and a potential risk. It posed to our health care professionals and our concerns regarding the low volume of test available at that time. These were serious challenges that had to be overcome and we knew we’d have to act quickly from the start. We took these and all issues seriously and made decisions responsibly as we moved fast because we had X because we had to. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, and this led to the creation of so many public private partnerships to supplement our PPE supply, the launch of Test Iowa and significantly increasing the number of Iowans tested for Cove in 19. I’m proud of what our team accomplished, and I am grateful toe Iowans who have taken their role and responsibility seriously as well. We’ve learned a lot over the last few months and will continue to as we manage Cove in 19. For the long term. The pandemic is not over and there remains much work to dio. There will be time to evaluate our action so that we’re better prepared for future situations, but now is not the time to focus on balancing the health and safety of now is the time to focus on balancing the health and safety of all Iowans. With Iowa’s economic recovery and the business of our state, which does include this week resuming the legislative session tomorrow, Iowa’s legislators returned to the capital to continue their work after the session was suspended in March due to covert 19. We’re grateful to have them back, and I look forward to finishing the state budget and addressing a range of other issues. I’ve been meeting with legislative leaders for the last couple of weeks, and we’ll be meeting again today. As you know, the R E C has given us a better picture of the economic impact of Covert 19 and how it has impacted the state’s bottom line. They’re estimating a reduction in state revenue for fiscal year, 21 of 210.8% or $65 million and all those sharply different than when we where we were a few months ago. It’s manageable because of the fiscal responsible approach that we’ve taken to budgeting in recent years. We’re in a solid position with cash reserves that are full. It’s going to be important for us to continue budgeting conservatively, keeping the focus on key priorities that support Iowa’s economic recovery such as workforce development, behavioral health services and rule broadband access. I’m grateful to many partners that have helped us manage the covert 19 response from the Trump administration to Senators Grassley and Ernst and our entire congressional delegation. I appreciate their quick relief provided that has helped us helped us in our cove in response efforts and that it puts us in a strong with puts us on a stronger footing to bounce back more quickly. We entered this session recommending the Invest in Iowa Act, which was a complex approach to making Iowa more competitive funding or mental health system. Helping Iowans keep more of their hard earned money, and protecting I was water quality and enhancing and enhancing outdoor recreation. Circumstances have changed, and we’re gonna have to put that plan on the back burner. But it will be back in the future like so many things that have been disrupted over the last few months. I was legislative. Such session will end much differently than how we imagined it would. While some priorities have now changed, my expectation is that what hasn’t changed is our collective commitment to doing what’s right for Iowa right now. Finally, today is primary Election Day like a lot of things that will look different, including where your polling place is located. So make sure to check the location before you go out, and I encourage all Iowans to exercise their right to vote today on, I want you to be assured that you will have the opportunity to vote. Voting will not be prevented or impacted due to the curfews that remain in place in some communities. So don’t don’t be worried about that. I also want to thank Secretary of State Paul Pay and I was 99 county auditors for rolling up their sleeves to ensure that Cove in 19 doesn’t keep Iowans for voting. And so what? That will open it up to questions. Governor, what’s your threshold for calling out? The National Guard president yesterday said if states don’t take control, they will send the military in, In your view, what circumstances would warn that here? Well, it’s possible I listen to the expertise that I have and that has included Commissioner Baines and that has included an incredible collaboration partnership in communication with state, Cone County and state law enforcement. They have a lot of resource is at hand that they have been able to mobilize and disperse to different areas of the state, depending on what the need is. So as part of that response, potentially does include the National Guard. So I have been in constant communication with General Coral. General Carell has been in constant communication with semester commissioner veins, and it is a resource that I can call up if needed. And at this point, K, we have not needed that. But they are ready at a moments notice to be deployed, and it would be to support what is already taking place. So that might that would be kind of third ring back, but would help us maybe secure some facilities if that became an issue. So right now, again, I was gonna just let Iowans know the incredible partnership, collaboration and communication that is taking place between city, county and state law enforcement. They have done an incredible and professional job of standing on the front line, doing everything that they can Teoh help facilitate peaceful protests, but also to be prepared and ready when we have agitators and individuals who have a different agenda that wanna hijack the message that want to put Iowans life’s at risk and want to destroy properties and our communities. And so that is what they’re balancing every day. And I think they’ve done an exceptional job and making sure that that happens. Following up on case question After the president’s remarks yesterday, he had law enforcement, tear gas, peaceful protesters who were out before curfew. Is that inappropriate use of military force or law enforcement use? Walk through what I’m doing. I’m focused on Iowa. I said that yesterday. I need to deal with half What’s what’s happening in my state. I need to be proactive. I need to be prepared. I need to listen to the expertise we need to make sure that we’re facilitating that dialogue and that communication and it’s taking place. I’m just so that’s what I’m focused on. I’ve reached out to mayors all across the state yesterday to get a sense of what they’re dealing with. What they had anticipated toe let them know that that same type of partnership and collaboration stands ready to support and help them facilitate peaceful protest. But there is a deserted economy that’s happening right now. You have those that want to peacefully protest that have every right to do that. And you have hate bowling of individuals that want to take advantage of what is happening and cause chaos there, hijacking the message. They’re not helping us move forward, and it’s just not it’s just not going to be tolerated. So we’re gonna do everything we can to facilitate peaceful protests. I think we see that happening. I cannot thank enough the community activists that have stepped up. Ah Ko has done a phenomenal job. Isaiah Bishop Woods. I mean, there is a host of faith leaders that came together yesterday to just really help with the outreach in the communication. And again, Iowa is fortunate that our law enforcement and communities across the state everybody can always do better. We know that I’m not sticking my head in the sand and saying there’s not areas that we can’t be better at, but they have spent a lot of efforts building relationships in these communities, and we’re seeing, I think, the advantage of those relationships that have been built on. I’m grateful for that and I think there’s an opportunity to build on that foundation and continue to move the state forward. What is the threshold? I’m sure you’re aware of the incidents outside last night. What is the threshold for when law enforcement will have to physically remove people from the grounds and also to use pepper spray and tear gas on those who are so there? You know it’s chaotic, it’s intense, as a Ko said yesterday. And if you’re in the midst of all of that chaos, when you have agitators and individuals that are trying to hijack and destroy and potentially harm Iowans, communities, property, then all of that is happening when you have rocks being thrown at you, when you have bricks being thrown at you when you show up with the backpack, I mean, those are that’s elements of what’s taking place. I don’t know, Commissioner Baines. You want to kind of walk through. It’s It’s not a science. It’s an art, so to speak. Um, those events are incredibly dynamic, Andi chaotic. It’s care for those that are in attendance, but it’s also it’s catic for the officers to quite frankly, no, we train and train and train in large part so we can somewhat divorce ourselves from the chaos and the emotion that naturally builds on all of us and to try to remain those consummate professionals. But when those decisions get made, those decisions are made. I’m not in a vacuum. So, for example, we had individuals last night. We had folks stationed in the crowd. We had received intelligence information. We’re monitoring social media were evaluating whether there was coordinated efforts being made during the course of that. And it’s We have to evaluate all those things in conjunction with one another to evaluate the necessity and the risk of taking those actions, and even then were extremely reluctant to take those actions. I mean, we I can tell you honestly, the Iowa State Patrol last night in the tactical teams that were out in combination with the story County Sheriff’s Office, it was restraint, restraint, restraint. And even then it was a little bit more restraint. Last evening we gave five dispersal orders we did not enforce at 901 a curfew. Um, it was about 11 30 last night, 2.5 hours after which, and it’s also important to know the dynamics of last night. So we had a great protest at 6 30 Um, a lot of good things being done. Ah, lot of positive things coming out, A lot of healing coming out of that. And even after that primary group left, there was a core group of several 100. They went down the police station, and if you saw it last night, there was maybe 101 150 people that were actually interested in having a conversation with law enforcement. And that 101 150 people stayed at the police station for an hour, two hours last night and had those conversations. Unfortunately, there was another group of about 100 to 200 that did not appear overly interested in having that conversation on That is the group that ultimately ended up on the capital last night. And so it is really dynamic. It’s not done in a vacuum. It’s not a, you know, a tiered system. It’s really trying to use discretion and be very, very incremental in our efforts. What changed at 11 30 though, since they allowed them to defy the curfew for 2.5 hours, was there was there an act of aggression toward the officers? Was it just a time thing. What was the finals for? Off? It’s never a final straw s, so to speak. It was the confluence of all of those things you described is to try to give us much grace to folks as you can and not impose a hard curfew. But evaluate those circumstances. Obviously, as the night grows later, there’s increased logistical challenges and those sorts of things. So time is a factor. But trying to show some grace, obviously intelligence information that we were receiving from the crowd, physical actions by the crowd itself, efforts by the crowd to approach the capital area on, not stay, you know, at the lower levels of it, it’s It’s so multifaceted. There’s not a straw that said, OK, that’s it. It was really evaluating the sum total. Governor, I have another question about just the fact that obviously we still are in the midst of a pandemic. There’s a public health officials who have expressed concern about, um, various groups gathering at this time and what ripple effect that may have. How is your administration monitoring that, and what are you prepared to do if there is a spike in cases that may be tied to the gatherings, but may be tied to the openings of the state. Yeah, well, we’re gonna look at the data like we said we would all along. And that’s what test Iowa and the, um, system that we put in place the data managers management system system and the availability to test and the case investigation really allows us to do that. So, you know, I mean, the testing capacity in Polk County alone has been incredible. So that’s how will continue to manage and monitor the impacts of opening up and how we can continue to open up. I’ve seen most people look like they were doing a pretty good job of wearing a face covering and being personally responsible, but just to go back real quick. In Polk County alone, since May 26th we did 549 and one day that was tested just in Polk County. The 27th was 567. The 28th was 558. The 29th was 516th. And then yesterday we did 537. As you heard me say in my opening remarks two days Now we’ve surpassed processing over 5000 state a test at the state hygienic lab. And so we’re really starting, I think, get to the system. Fine tune. That’s what we’ve had the capacity to dio. And so we’re going to continue to monitor it. We’re gonna continue to look where we’re seeing maybe some increased virus activity potential spike, um And then we can relocate those test I was sites to. Those facilities were also will be updating. I think more of this on Thursday, maybe. Or this is one of Thursday. Take this anymore. Um Teoh talk about different ways that we’re helping tests, whether it’s the evacuate she’s or whether it’s our clinic sites like we highlighted in down in Burlington and Des Moines County. We’ve got several counties that are really excited about providing that opportunity to their residents. And so we’re strategically working with hospitals and clinics and our actuate she’s across the state to really set up some smaller sites, provide them with the test diet with kids so that we can continue to monitor. It will also be talking about what are long term testing strategy. Looks like we’re working in conjunction with the Department of Public Health right now. Moving forward. Governor. There are Democrats who have called for more oversight of the Test Iowa program. As we head into the legislative session, what is your response to that? Is there more data that you’re willing toe release to the public about the program? First of all, we’re releasing a lot of data a lot more than we ever have, and test Iowa has allowed us to do that with a whole host of labs that are allowing us to test I once. It’s not just test I with the state hygienic lab. I think today they have 21,000 test available through the state hygienic lab, so we continue to build that out. Lab core filled a really critical role with our long term care facilities when we were trying to get some base testing done there. So it’s been a whole whole host of National labs, the state hygienic lab, the test Iowa. And it’s not just about the test, not only as it provided US test, but it’s helped streamline the process. We went from a manual process to populating it through technology with the QR codes. We have data management system. We continue to enhance that. That’s providing critical information to the Department of Public Health and our EPI team. And it’s you know, we’re gonna continue to build out the amount of data that we’re able to provide the public because of the website. The call center. It’s so much more. So you know, I’m proud of it. I’m not gonna back away from it. Like I said in my remarks, I read a report up there. I was going through some stuff when I came back to the capital and it was Ah, memo that I got from the state hygienic lab and this was March 12th and it said the lab capacity to test is at about 150 more people. That was on March 12. We expect the extraction re agents to run out in 3 to 4 days. So not only were we dealing with the national PPE shortage, we were also dealing with the capacity, the small capacity to test, and every governor out there was looking at whatever they could dio working with the private sector, working with the administration, working with our agencies to figure out how we could make sure that we could provide the protective equipment for our front line workers to make sure that we could test so we could aren’t start to understand the scope and severity of the virus activity across the state. And then to really start to move into the recovery So we can get Iowans back to work and hopefully reduce the impact that they’ve seen and continue to see from Kobe. 19 yesterday Talked about systemic change. How much of a setback would it be if the Legislature doesn’t take the final steps on your proposal in regards to automatically restoring felon voting as well? We’ve had some really good conversation. So I met with him early on and said that this continues to be one of my number one priorities and it’s really important case. So we’re gonna just I’m gonna remain optimistic. The conversations have been good that I’ve had with that leadership and with legislators, and I’ll continue to work with them and hopefully we’ll see some progress. This system. I’m sorry. Would you start out just like that with Governor? Oh, okay. You to spend long nights, right? For those who kind of watch these late night situations play out who do not take part in the protest. We’ve been getting messages from people about why should they choose to follow and adhere to the mandatory curfew when they watch on TV? Hundreds and hundreds of people define well, you know, do the right thing. It was put in place to de escalate. It was put in place to really, you know, after dark. There’s just not a lot of that’s when we started to see some of the problems and Kerr, and especially the later that we get into the evening There were, you know, Commissioner Baines talked about it. There was an unbelievable, peaceful protest that took place in the capital yesterday and just was thousands of people there. They had a wonderful turnout. Uh, and then what happens is it starts to break down. People go home, people abide by what the curfew is. And then you have people that have other objectives that don’t and so it really helps kind of us narrow in on potentially. Who’s here to really not, you know, not move the issue forward, but to really hijack the message? I did talk the mayor Coralville they had implemented a curfew Yesterday he talked to city please, and he said that he felt that that really it was had been helpful in them, really addressing and just maintaining peaceful product protest within the community. So he felt that it was effective. I think it’s been effective here, and you heard, too, you know, it’s not like they Russian. I mean, I think the commissioner really laid out a lot of steps that they’re willing to take to continue to facilitate a dialogue and work with individuals to prevent things from escalating. So they did that. But at some point, there’s just nothing productive that’s gonna take place. Erin Murphy I thank you and just real quick before my question. The audio’s been a little bit quieter over the last few questions, so I don’t know that the function of the system itself for the speakers could be a little louder of those books on the Golden. Appreciate that very much. Thank you. Um, I have one question for each If you don’t mind Governor Reynolds, I’m wondering, with these protests that have been outside the capital left unite, do you have any information or concern regarding the possibility of those coaches coming inside the Capitol during, especially as the place of sessions starting back up tomorrow and if there are proper safety protocols in place in case that were to happen and for Mr Last night, a De Moines Register reporter was hit with pepper spray, and I know the governor and representatives. Ahmad Yesterday, Abdul Samad yesterday talked about the danger of journalists being in the thick of it. But this particular journalist, well off to the north side of the protest. I was clearing the area at the request of officers and still appeared to be from the video to be targeted and get by pepper spray. And she was identifying yourself. Reporter. I don’t know if that was a law enforcement official under from what? From what vision that officer was from, but I wonder if you had any information on that could have addressed. That is, I did see a clip this morning, I believe, on the De Moines Register’s website that I presume, is the event that you’re speaking of. I can say that it appeared that that the officer involved in that was not a member of the Iowa State patrol or we have a department public safety. It appeared to be a member of the De Moines Police Department, but beyond that, I’m not here to second guess the actions that they felt that it was necessary to take a that point in time. As I said, these are very fluid, dynamic circumstances. They are chaotic by nature on. You also have to remember that we were experiencing yesterday, um, a fair amount of calculated intentional activity by a small group of folks that were organized on. They were using very specific tactics throughout in that organization. And so that’s another piece in terms of evaluating, that is, is that group was becoming more sophisticated with each passing day in terms of their tactics on DSO. It’s just such a It is a difficult thing. I don’t think anyone has any desire. Um, I know law enforcement know our folks don’t have any desire to see anyone that is there in a peaceful capacity or as a member of the media to get caught up with that, and in fact, that’s one of the reasons why a curfew is so one important. It does give us the ability for lack of better term to separate the wheat from the shaft. That was one of the concerns. Friday night is you had a very active group blending in to folks that were on Court Avenue, and that becomes an incredibly difficult scenario. And so the more that we can kind of identify, All right, this is the group that’s going to be problematic. Kind of a good folks absent. You know, the media are good folks as well, but you know, those those folks have gone home. But it does become incredibly difficult and challenging in those scenarios on, they’re really doing the best they can. Last question. I think we’re still being extremely high numbers of cases in the packing plant County wondering since the last time we spoke habitability. Further outbreak, you could tell us about what is your level of concern? Inability to again regulator to some degree high levels of numbers. Yeah, So I meant to start with that. My apology, but I’m gonna have Sarah address what they’re doing with the business. So, you know, we’ve seen this consistently when we see a little bit of virus activity, especially if it’s tied to a manufacturer ah, processing plan or long term care facilities than our ability to move testing in and start doing some surveillance testing to understand the scope and severity of the virus activity so we can identify positive individuals, get them isolated on the road to recovery, separate them from the negative start to do the really important case investigation. That really helps us moving forward to, and what you’ve seen is the majority of the individuals after their isolation period there, back at work. So it really does allow us through the manufacturing and processing plants, maybe to reduce the capacity of the operation. Focus on the individuals that are, are testing negative with the proper PPE and and precautions put in place. And then, really, you know, start to identify who they’ve been in contact with, what the potential spread is, and then how we could start to get them healthy and back to work. And it really happens in a relatively quick time frame. And we’re seeing that with the other areas where we’ve done the surveillance testing. We also are doing a lot of not only the PCR testing but the serology testing as well, and we’ve seen that really provided us with some helpful data moving forward, I want to give an update on business. Is that okay? That’s so we haven’t identified any additional business outbreaks since last Friday. We have been working on a more systematic process for being able to announce those outbreaks as they are detected, and so we’ll continue to keep you informed on, since we’re not going to do this on a daily basis, and we figured out another way to make people aware of those, as we do confirm them. But as I said, we haven’t confirmed any additional outbreaks. You know, early on a Z, I’ve said a number of times we have seen. What we know about the virus is that it spreads easily in congregate settings where people live and work closely together. And so we’ve seen that in a long term care facilities, and we’ve seen that in some of our manufacturing facilities as well. So we’ve been very proactive in reaching out to those businesses and offering support for testing and offering support for modifications that they might want to make to their processes to make sure that people aren’t necessarily working as closely as they otherwise would and will continue to provide that support. Teoh any business that asks us to do that but understanding that some of these congregate work environments were high risk for the transmission of cove it we’ve gone in, and we have actually facilitated surveillance testing, which has really which has resulted, quite frankly, in higher number of positive cases. Then we would have otherwise found because it’s meant that anybody who wants to be tested at the business in some cases all of the employees of the business are being tested. And so we’re finding positive cases in people who would be otherwise asymptomatic might not have any symptoms at all. Might not be feeling ill. It all. And so I think that has led to increased numbers of cases and those some of those communities. But as the governor mentioned, that’s why it’s important to identify those individuals who might be in asymptomatic. And I’m still capable of spreading as they could be excluded from the workplace and get back to being healthy again. Well, this this ties into the conversation over systemic racism in Iowa, with the cases of Kobe 19 disproportionately impacting black and brown Iowans, especially in areas likely packing processing plants. What is the state? What kind of conversations is your administration having about that? Given that you’re and too many other questions with, I think the testing is one of the key things that we can dio. That’s how we provide these employees with the confidence to work in a safe environment. It’s been key for us to address that. And when you look at the strategy that we’re gonna put together to continue to offer testing moving forward, that’s just a critical component, so people can second guess our ability to be able to increase testing. But that is significantly how we start to get in front of it and understand where the virus activity is to make sure that if they’re testing positive, we get them, um, the care that they need to start them on the path to recovery. I didn’t do the case investigation so we can see who else potentially will be impacted. But it’s a key component of our strategy in addressing some of our most vulnerable population. Thank you
good morning, we’ll go ahead and start with an update on the protest. Last night again, hundreds of people gathered in several communities across the state and peaceful protests to speak their mind and have their voices heard Thank you to all of those who exercise their right to protest in a peaceful and responsible way. At some events, agitators again attempted to detract from the message and resort to violence. While law enforcement disarmed most situations, damage did occur and arrest remain. These types of actions do absolutely nothing to create solutions and move forward, and they’re not going to be tolerated. I again want to thank the community leaders and law enforcement who have been on the front lines working so hard to establish and maintain a dialog and prevent violence and again allow peaceful protests to take place. Progress starts with each of us. It means listening and understanding and sometimes pushing the boundaries of our comfort zone. As I said yesterday, I’m committed to helping move these conversations forward towards action for change this morning. I also want to provide a brief status update on Iowa’s Cove in 19 response, nearly 100 and 64,000 Iowans have been tested for Corona virus for a per capita rate of one in 19. Our largest test day yet was last Saturday, May 30th when the state hygienic lab processed 5223 tests, surpassing our 5000 tests per day capacity. We also exceeded 5000 test again yesterday. The number of positive cases continue to trend down. Our average positivity rate over time now sets at 12.2% and yesterday’s rate was 6%. Last week we saw an increase in positive cases in beautiful to county as a test Iowa site opened and testing was conducted on long term care facilities and manufactured employees in the employees in the area. Currently, one in four residents in on a per capita and benefits to county have been tested and positive cases are beginning to trend down. Crawford County is another area where we open test Iowa to support surveillance testing in the community. One and nine residents on a per capita basis in the area have now been tested. Of the 528 total positive cases, 323 are now reported as recovered and positive cases are trending down. I’m also pleased to report that the state is partnering with the Iowa Emergency Management Association and county emergency manager statewide to distribute and build six regional PPE stockpiles to ensure regional and local preparedness for any future events. Stockpiles will have a 30 day supply of PPE for each county in the region. Additionally, as part of our ongoing PPE distribution efforts, the state is transitioning to providing a 14 day supply of PPE and support of county request. Previously, due to supply shortages, the state had only been able to fill PPE and smaller seven day supply quantities late last Friday afternoon. I did have the opportunity returned to my office here at the Capitol to prepare for this week. When I left in March to work from the State Emergency Operations Center, we were in the very early stages of understanding covert 19 what its impact would look like in Iowa and the best course of action for mitigating it spread and protecting Iowans. Returning was like opening a time capsule of sorts, with reminders of early planning meetings and conversations and discussions of PPE shortages and a potential risk. It posed to our health care professionals and our concerns regarding the low volume of test available at that time. These were serious challenges that had to be overcome and we knew we’d have to act quickly from the start. We took these and all issues seriously and made decisions responsibly as we moved fast because we had X because we had to. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, and this led to the creation of so many public private partnerships to supplement our PPE supply, the launch of Test Iowa and significantly increasing the number of Iowans tested for Cove in 19. I’m proud of what our team accomplished, and I am grateful toe Iowans who have taken their role and responsibility seriously as well. We’ve learned a lot over the last few months and will continue to as we manage Cove in 19. For the long term. The pandemic is not over and there remains much work to dio. There will be time to evaluate our action so that we’re better prepared for future situations, but now is not the time to focus on balancing the health and safety of now is the time to focus on balancing the health and safety of all Iowans. With Iowa’s economic recovery and the business of our state, which does include this week resuming the legislative session tomorrow, Iowa’s legislators returned to the capital to continue their work after the session was suspended in March due to covert 19. We’re grateful to have them back, and I look forward to finishing the state budget and addressing a range of other issues. I’ve been meeting with legislative leaders for the last couple of weeks, and we’ll be meeting again today. As you know, the R E C has given us a better picture of the economic impact of Covert 19 and how it has impacted the state’s bottom line. They’re estimating a reduction in state revenue for fiscal year, 21 of 210.8% or $65 million and all those sharply different than when we where we were a few months ago. It’s manageable because of the fiscal responsible approach that we’ve taken to budgeting in recent years. We’re in a solid position with cash reserves that are full. It’s going to be important for us to continue budgeting conservatively, keeping the focus on key priorities that support Iowa’s economic recovery such as workforce development, behavioral health services and rule broadband access. I’m grateful to many partners that have helped us manage the covert 19 response from the Trump administration to Senators Grassley and Ernst and our entire congressional delegation. I appreciate their quick relief provided that has helped us helped us in our cove in response efforts and that it puts us in a strong with puts us on a stronger footing to bounce back more quickly. We entered this session recommending the Invest in Iowa Act, which was a complex approach to making Iowa more competitive funding or mental health system. Helping Iowans keep more of their hard earned money, and protecting I was water quality and enhancing and enhancing outdoor recreation. Circumstances have changed, and we’re gonna have to put that plan on the back burner. But it will be back in the future like so many things that have been disrupted over the last few months. I was legislative. Such session will end much differently than how we imagined it would. While some priorities have now changed, my expectation is that what hasn’t changed is our collective commitment to doing what’s right for Iowa right now. Finally, today is primary Election Day like a lot of things that will look different, including where your polling place is located. So make sure to check the location before you go out, and I encourage all Iowans to exercise their right to vote today on, I want you to be assured that you will have the opportunity to vote. Voting will not be prevented or impacted due to the curfews that remain in place in some communities. So don’t don’t be worried about that. I also want to thank Secretary of State Paul Pay and I was 99 county auditors for rolling up their sleeves to ensure that Cove in 19 doesn’t keep Iowans for voting. And so what? That will open it up to questions. Governor, what’s your threshold for calling out? The National Guard president yesterday said if states don’t take control, they will send the military in, In your view, what circumstances would warn that here? Well, it’s possible I listen to the expertise that I have and that has included Commissioner Baines and that has included an incredible collaboration partnership in communication with state, Cone County and state law enforcement. They have a lot of resource is at hand that they have been able to mobilize and disperse to different areas of the state, depending on what the need is. So as part of that response, potentially does include the National Guard. So I have been in constant communication with General Coral. General Carell has been in constant communication with semester commissioner veins, and it is a resource that I can call up if needed. And at this point, K, we have not needed that. But they are ready at a moments notice to be deployed, and it would be to support what is already taking place. So that might that would be kind of third ring back, but would help us maybe secure some facilities if that became an issue. So right now, again, I was gonna just let Iowans know the incredible partnership, collaboration and communication that is taking place between city, county and state law enforcement. They have done an incredible and professional job of standing on the front line, doing everything that they can Teoh help facilitate peaceful protests, but also to be prepared and ready when we have agitators and individuals who have a different agenda that wanna hijack the message that want to put Iowans life’s at risk and want to destroy properties and our communities. And so that is what they’re balancing every day. And I think they’ve done an exceptional job and making sure that that happens. Following up on case question After the president’s remarks yesterday, he had law enforcement, tear gas, peaceful protesters who were out before curfew. Is that inappropriate use of military force or law enforcement use? Walk through what I’m doing. I’m focused on Iowa. I said that yesterday. I need to deal with half What’s what’s happening in my state. I need to be proactive. I need to be prepared. I need to listen to the expertise we need to make sure that we’re facilitating that dialogue and that communication and it’s taking place. I’m just so that’s what I’m focused on. I’ve reached out to mayors all across the state yesterday to get a sense of what they’re dealing with. What they had anticipated toe let them know that that same type of partnership and collaboration stands ready to support and help them facilitate peaceful protest. But there is a deserted economy that’s happening right now. You have those that want to peacefully protest that have every right to do that. And you have hate bowling of individuals that want to take advantage of what is happening and cause chaos there, hijacking the message. They’re not helping us move forward, and it’s just not it’s just not going to be tolerated. So we’re gonna do everything we can to facilitate peaceful protests. I think we see that happening. I cannot thank enough the community activists that have stepped up. Ah Ko has done a phenomenal job. Isaiah Bishop Woods. I mean, there is a host of faith leaders that came together yesterday to just really help with the outreach in the communication. And again, Iowa is fortunate that our law enforcement and communities across the state everybody can always do better. We know that I’m not sticking my head in the sand and saying there’s not areas that we can’t be better at, but they have spent a lot of efforts building relationships in these communities, and we’re seeing, I think, the advantage of those relationships that have been built on. I’m grateful for that and I think there’s an opportunity to build on that foundation and continue to move the state forward. What is the threshold? I’m sure you’re aware of the incidents outside last night. What is the threshold for when law enforcement will have to physically remove people from the grounds and also to use pepper spray and tear gas on those who are so there? You know it’s chaotic, it’s intense, as a Ko said yesterday. And if you’re in the midst of all of that chaos, when you have agitators and individuals that are trying to hijack and destroy and potentially harm Iowans, communities, property, then all of that is happening when you have rocks being thrown at you, when you have bricks being thrown at you when you show up with the backpack, I mean, those are that’s elements of what’s taking place. I don’t know, Commissioner Baines. You want to kind of walk through. It’s It’s not a science. It’s an art, so to speak. Um, those events are incredibly dynamic, Andi chaotic. It’s care for those that are in attendance, but it’s also it’s catic for the officers to quite frankly, no, we train and train and train in large part so we can somewhat divorce ourselves from the chaos and the emotion that naturally builds on all of us and to try to remain those consummate professionals. But when those decisions get made, those decisions are made. I’m not in a vacuum. So, for example, we had individuals last night. We had folks stationed in the crowd. We had received intelligence information. We’re monitoring social media were evaluating whether there was coordinated efforts being made during the course of that. And it’s We have to evaluate all those things in conjunction with one another to evaluate the necessity and the risk of taking those actions, and even then were extremely reluctant to take those actions. I mean, we I can tell you honestly, the Iowa State Patrol last night in the tactical teams that were out in combination with the story County Sheriff’s Office, it was restraint, restraint, restraint. And even then it was a little bit more restraint. Last evening we gave five dispersal orders we did not enforce at 901 a curfew. Um, it was about 11 30 last night, 2.5 hours after which, and it’s also important to know the dynamics of last night. So we had a great protest at 6 30 Um, a lot of good things being done. Ah, lot of positive things coming out, A lot of healing coming out of that. And even after that primary group left, there was a core group of several 100. They went down the police station, and if you saw it last night, there was maybe 101 150 people that were actually interested in having a conversation with law enforcement. And that 101 150 people stayed at the police station for an hour, two hours last night and had those conversations. Unfortunately, there was another group of about 100 to 200 that did not appear overly interested in having that conversation on That is the group that ultimately ended up on the capital last night. And so it is really dynamic. It’s not done in a vacuum. It’s not a, you know, a tiered system. It’s really trying to use discretion and be very, very incremental in our efforts. What changed at 11 30 though, since they allowed them to defy the curfew for 2.5 hours, was there was there an act of aggression toward the officers? Was it just a time thing. What was the finals for? Off? It’s never a final straw s, so to speak. It was the confluence of all of those things you described is to try to give us much grace to folks as you can and not impose a hard curfew. But evaluate those circumstances. Obviously, as the night grows later, there’s increased logistical challenges and those sorts of things. So time is a factor. But trying to show some grace, obviously intelligence information that we were receiving from the crowd, physical actions by the crowd itself, efforts by the crowd to approach the capital area on, not stay, you know, at the lower levels of it, it’s It’s so multifaceted. There’s not a straw that said, OK, that’s it. It was really evaluating the sum total. Governor, I have another question about just the fact that obviously we still are in the midst of a pandemic. There’s a public health officials who have expressed concern about, um, various groups gathering at this time and what ripple effect that may have. How is your administration monitoring that, and what are you prepared to do if there is a spike in cases that may be tied to the gatherings, but may be tied to the openings of the state. Yeah, well, we’re gonna look at the data like we said we would all along. And that’s what test Iowa and the, um, system that we put in place the data managers management system system and the availability to test and the case investigation really allows us to do that. So, you know, I mean, the testing capacity in Polk County alone has been incredible. So that’s how will continue to manage and monitor the impacts of opening up and how we can continue to open up. I’ve seen most people look like they were doing a pretty good job of wearing a face covering and being personally responsible, but just to go back real quick. In Polk County alone, since May 26th we did 549 and one day that was tested just in Polk County. The 27th was 567. The 28th was 558. The 29th was 516th. And then yesterday we did 537. As you heard me say in my opening remarks two days Now we’ve surpassed processing over 5000 state a test at the state hygienic lab. And so we’re really starting, I think, get to the system. Fine tune. That’s what we’ve had the capacity to dio. And so we’re going to continue to monitor it. We’re gonna continue to look where we’re seeing maybe some increased virus activity potential spike, um And then we can relocate those test I was sites to. Those facilities were also will be updating. I think more of this on Thursday, maybe. Or this is one of Thursday. Take this anymore. Um Teoh talk about different ways that we’re helping tests, whether it’s the evacuate she’s or whether it’s our clinic sites like we highlighted in down in Burlington and Des Moines County. We’ve got several counties that are really excited about providing that opportunity to their residents. And so we’re strategically working with hospitals and clinics and our actuate she’s across the state to really set up some smaller sites, provide them with the test diet with kids so that we can continue to monitor. It will also be talking about what are long term testing strategy. Looks like we’re working in conjunction with the Department of Public Health right now. Moving forward. Governor. There are Democrats who have called for more oversight of the Test Iowa program. As we head into the legislative session, what is your response to that? Is there more data that you’re willing toe release to the public about the program? First of all, we’re releasing a lot of data a lot more than we ever have, and test Iowa has allowed us to do that with a whole host of labs that are allowing us to test I once. It’s not just test I with the state hygienic lab. I think today they have 21,000 test available through the state hygienic lab, so we continue to build that out. Lab core filled a really critical role with our long term care facilities when we were trying to get some base testing done there. So it’s been a whole whole host of National labs, the state hygienic lab, the test Iowa. And it’s not just about the test, not only as it provided US test, but it’s helped streamline the process. We went from a manual process to populating it through technology with the QR codes. We have data management system. We continue to enhance that. That’s providing critical information to the Department of Public Health and our EPI team. And it’s you know, we’re gonna continue to build out the amount of data that we’re able to provide the public because of the website. The call center. It’s so much more. So you know, I’m proud of it. I’m not gonna back away from it. Like I said in my remarks, I read a report up there. I was going through some stuff when I came back to the capital and it was Ah, memo that I got from the state hygienic lab and this was March 12th and it said the lab capacity to test is at about 150 more people. That was on March 12. We expect the extraction re agents to run out in 3 to 4 days. So not only were we dealing with the national PPE shortage, we were also dealing with the capacity, the small capacity to test, and every governor out there was looking at whatever they could dio working with the private sector, working with the administration, working with our agencies to figure out how we could make sure that we could provide the protective equipment for our front line workers to make sure that we could test so we could aren’t start to understand the scope and severity of the virus activity across the state. And then to really start to move into the recovery So we can get Iowans back to work and hopefully reduce the impact that they’ve seen and continue to see from Kobe. 19 yesterday Talked about systemic change. How much of a setback would it be if the Legislature doesn’t take the final steps on your proposal in regards to automatically restoring felon voting as well? We’ve had some really good conversation. So I met with him early on and said that this continues to be one of my number one priorities and it’s really important case. So we’re gonna just I’m gonna remain optimistic. The conversations have been good that I’ve had with that leadership and with legislators, and I’ll continue to work with them and hopefully we’ll see some progress. This system. I’m sorry. Would you start out just like that with Governor? Oh, okay. You to spend long nights, right? For those who kind of watch these late night situations play out who do not take part in the protest. We’ve been getting messages from people about why should they choose to follow and adhere to the mandatory curfew when they watch on TV? Hundreds and hundreds of people define well, you know, do the right thing. It was put in place to de escalate. It was put in place to really, you know, after dark. There’s just not a lot of that’s when we started to see some of the problems and Kerr, and especially the later that we get into the evening There were, you know, Commissioner Baines talked about it. There was an unbelievable, peaceful protest that took place in the capital yesterday and just was thousands of people there. They had a wonderful turnout. Uh, and then what happens is it starts to break down. People go home, people abide by what the curfew is. And then you have people that have other objectives that don’t and so it really helps kind of us narrow in on potentially. Who’s here to really not, you know, not move the issue forward, but to really hijack the message? I did talk the mayor Coralville they had implemented a curfew Yesterday he talked to city please, and he said that he felt that that really it was had been helpful in them, really addressing and just maintaining peaceful product protest within the community. So he felt that it was effective. I think it’s been effective here, and you heard, too, you know, it’s not like they Russian. I mean, I think the commissioner really laid out a lot of steps that they’re willing to take to continue to facilitate a dialogue and work with individuals to prevent things from escalating. So they did that. But at some point, there’s just nothing productive that’s gonna take place. Erin Murphy I thank you and just real quick before my question. The audio’s been a little bit quieter over the last few questions, so I don’t know that the function of the system itself for the speakers could be a little louder of those books on the Golden. Appreciate that very much. Thank you. Um, I have one question for each If you don’t mind Governor Reynolds, I’m wondering, with these protests that have been outside the capital left unite, do you have any information or concern regarding the possibility of those coaches coming inside the Capitol during, especially as the place of sessions starting back up tomorrow and if there are proper safety protocols in place in case that were to happen and for Mr Last night, a De Moines Register reporter was hit with pepper spray, and I know the governor and representatives. Ahmad Yesterday, Abdul Samad yesterday talked about the danger of journalists being in the thick of it. But this particular journalist, well off to the north side of the protest. I was clearing the area at the request of officers and still appeared to be from the video to be targeted and get by pepper spray. And she was identifying yourself. Reporter. I don’t know if that was a law enforcement official under from what? From what vision that officer was from, but I wonder if you had any information on that could have addressed. That is, I did see a clip this morning, I believe, on the De Moines Register’s website that I presume, is the event that you’re speaking of. I can say that it appeared that that the officer involved in that was not a member of the Iowa State patrol or we have a department public safety. It appeared to be a member of the De Moines Police Department, but beyond that, I’m not here to second guess the actions that they felt that it was necessary to take a that point in time. As I said, these are very fluid, dynamic circumstances. They are chaotic by nature on. You also have to remember that we were experiencing yesterday, um, a fair amount of calculated intentional activity by a small group of folks that were organized on. They were using very specific tactics throughout in that organization. And so that’s another piece in terms of evaluating, that is, is that group was becoming more sophisticated with each passing day in terms of their tactics on DSO. It’s just such a It is a difficult thing. I don’t think anyone has any desire. Um, I know law enforcement know our folks don’t have any desire to see anyone that is there in a peaceful capacity or as a member of the media to get caught up with that, and in fact, that’s one of the reasons why a curfew is so one important. It does give us the ability for lack of better term to separate the wheat from the shaft. That was one of the concerns. Friday night is you had a very active group blending in to folks that were on Court Avenue, and that becomes an incredibly difficult scenario. And so the more that we can kind of identify, All right, this is the group that’s going to be problematic. Kind of a good folks absent. You know, the media are good folks as well, but you know, those those folks have gone home. But it does become incredibly difficult and challenging in those scenarios on, they’re really doing the best they can. Last question. I think we’re still being extremely high numbers of cases in the packing plant County wondering since the last time we spoke habitability. Further outbreak, you could tell us about what is your level of concern? Inability to again regulator to some degree high levels of numbers. Yeah, So I meant to start with that. My apology, but I’m gonna have Sarah address what they’re doing with the business. So, you know, we’ve seen this consistently when we see a little bit of virus activity, especially if it’s tied to a manufacturer ah, processing plan or long term care facilities than our ability to move testing in and start doing some surveillance testing to understand the scope and severity of the virus activity so we can identify positive individuals, get them isolated on the road to recovery, separate them from the negative start to do the really important case investigation. That really helps us moving forward to, and what you’ve seen is the majority of the individuals after their isolation period there, back at work. So it really does allow us through the manufacturing and processing plants, maybe to reduce the capacity of the operation. Focus on the individuals that are, are testing negative with the proper PPE and and precautions put in place. And then, really, you know, start to identify who they’ve been in contact with, what the potential spread is, and then how we could start to get them healthy and back to work. And it really happens in a relatively quick time frame. And we’re seeing that with the other areas where we’ve done the surveillance testing. We also are doing a lot of not only the PCR testing but the serology testing as well, and we’ve seen that really provided us with some helpful data moving forward, I want to give an update on business. Is that okay? That’s so we haven’t identified any additional business outbreaks since last Friday. We have been working on a more systematic process for being able to announce those outbreaks as they are detected, and so we’ll continue to keep you informed on, since we’re not going to do this on a daily basis, and we figured out another way to make people aware of those, as we do confirm them. But as I said, we haven’t confirmed any additional outbreaks. You know, early on a Z, I’ve said a number of times we have seen. What we know about the virus is that it spreads easily in congregate settings where people live and work closely together. And so we’ve seen that in a long term care facilities, and we’ve seen that in some of our manufacturing facilities as well. So we’ve been very proactive in reaching out to those businesses and offering support for testing and offering support for modifications that they might want to make to their processes to make sure that people aren’t necessarily working as closely as they otherwise would and will continue to provide that support. Teoh any business that asks us to do that but understanding that some of these congregate work environments were high risk for the transmission of cove it we’ve gone in, and we have actually facilitated surveillance testing, which has really which has resulted, quite frankly, in higher number of positive cases. Then we would have otherwise found because it’s meant that anybody who wants to be tested at the business in some cases all of the employees of the business are being tested. And so we’re finding positive cases in people who would be otherwise asymptomatic might not have any symptoms at all. Might not be feeling ill. It all. And so I think that has led to increased numbers of cases and those some of those communities. But as the governor mentioned, that’s why it’s important to identify those individuals who might be in asymptomatic. And I’m still capable of spreading as they could be excluded from the workplace and get back to being healthy again. Well, this this ties into the conversation over systemic racism in Iowa, with the cases of Kobe 19 disproportionately impacting black and brown Iowans, especially in areas likely packing processing plants. What is the state? What kind of conversations is your administration having about that? Given that you’re and too many other questions with, I think the testing is one of the key things that we can dio. That’s how we provide these employees with the confidence to work in a safe environment. It’s been key for us to address that. And when you look at the strategy that we’re gonna put together to continue to offer testing moving forward, that’s just a critical component, so people can second guess our ability to be able to increase testing. But that is significantly how we start to get in front of it and understand where the virus activity is to make sure that if they’re testing positive, we get them, um, the care that they need to start them on the path to recovery. I didn’t do the case investigation so we can see who else potentially will be impacted. But it’s a key component of our strategy in addressing some of our most vulnerable population. Thank you