SPM News

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Iowa in the past day topped 1,000 with 18 more deaths. The state also reported that an increase in people being treated at hospitals for the virus has continued, with the 390 people now hospitalized, including 63 at Sioux City’s two hospitals. That’s an increase of eight in one day. There has been one more death in Woodbury County for 68 in all with 41 new cases recorded today. Woodbury County’s 14-day positivity rate is at 15%. Earlier today, it did

The number of Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19 increased overnight as the state added 667 new positive cases and seven additional deaths, including three more in Woodbury County reported on Tuesday night, for a total of 67 people. More than 87,500 Iowans have tested positive for the disease, with 77% recovered. Thirteen counties are above a 14-day positivity rate of 15%. Lyon is top in the state with almost 29% with Sioux falling to second with almost 28%. Woodbury County is down to 15%. Any

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds today announced some changes in quarantine recommendations for people that have been exposed to positive cases of COVID-19. At her morning news conference today, Reynolds said, from now on, close contacts of COVID-positive cases would no longer need to quarantine for 14 days, if a face covering was worn consistently and correctly by the positive case and close contacts. Reynolds said school districts had expressed frustration with the quarantine recommendations. “In

The two candidates for U.S. Senate met face-to-face during a debate on Iowa PBS Monday night after weeks of biting political adds. You can see the full debate here . Incumbent Joni Ernst of Red Oak faces a serious challenge from West Des Moines businesswoman, Theresa Greenfield. A recent poll from the Des Moines Register/Mediacom gave Greenfield a slight lead in the race for the 6-year term. The two candidates were first asked about President Trump’s taxes and if deductions Iowans were hearing

The number of Iowans in the hospital with COVID-19 reached a four-month high on Monday as the Department of Public Health reported two more have died of the disease and more than 600 tested positive. There are more than 350 hospitalized; including 57 in Woodbury County, according to Siouxland District Health. That is an overall increase of five patients in one day. There are 54 new positive cases in Woodbury County. Dakota County reports 48 new cases. Fourteen counties in the state do have an

South Dakota is seeing another record day for new COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations six months after the state of the pandemic. The department of health reported eight more deaths on Thursday, including one more in Union County. That ties the death rate reported last Wednesday. There are 463 new confirmed cases in South Dakota. That beats yesterday’s record by 18 new cases. There have been 210 deaths in South Dakota with seven in Union County, five in Clay and four in Yankton County. The

For the latest COVID-19 information from the Iowa Department of Public Health click here . Iowa health officials are working to try and figure out what's causing a spike in coronavirus cases here in northwest Iowa. Several counties are seeing a surge in new cases. Sioux County has a 14-day positivity rate of more than 30%. Public health officials usually recommend significant mitigation measures to slow the spread when an area surpasses 5% positivity. Neighboring Lyon and Osceola counties have

Two more people have died of COVID-19 in Woodbury County for a total of 63. Statewide, another 19 Iowans lost their lives due to the virus, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. There were 30 more cases in Woodbury County, and more than 500 in the whole state in a 24-hour period that ended at 10 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, Dakota County reports five new cases. There have been 43 deaths in Dakota County. Woodbury County stands at a positivity rate of 15%. Six of the top ten

Dozens gathered for a vigil in downtown Sioux City over the weekend to honor the Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Ginsburg died on Friday at the age of 87. The Woodbury County Democrats organized the gathering at the Bill of Rights Monument near 6 th and Douglas on Saturday night. “We are all better because she was on the Supreme Court.” “It’s our time to fight to defend our Democracy. And, it’s going to take all of us and it’s not going to be easy.” That’s Karen Mackey, the Native

The Iowa Department of Public Health is reporting more than 600 new cases of COVID-19 and one death due to complications of the disease. More than 80,600 have tested positive during the pandemic with 1,267 deaths. Woodbury County is above the 15% threshold when it comes to the 14-day test positivity rate. That is one of the criteria set by the state to allow a school district to apply for online learning only. Sioux County is at top with almost 30%. Other northwest Iowa counties above the 15%