Iowa approaching 10,000 COVID-19 cases

Iowa is on track to surpass 10,000 COVID-19 cases soon.

On Monday, the state saw 534 new cases, bringing Iowa's total number to 9,703 according to Iowa Department of Public Health data. Additionally, there were four new deaths on Monday, bringing the state total to 188. Appanoose, Jasper, Poweshiek and Wapello Counties saw one death each.

Locally, Washington County had one new case of COVID-19 reported on Monday, bringing the county total up to 149. Henry County also saw one new case, bringing its total up to 34. Jefferson County remained at six cases on Monday.

Monday's high number of cases follows a weekend that saw 740 cases on Friday, 757 cases on Saturday and 528 cases on Sunday. At a news conference last week, Gov. Kim Reynolds said due to the amount of testing that weekend numbers would be higher.

May 1 marked the first day that virus mitigation efforts were eased in 77 of Iowa's 99 counties, including Jefferson County. Restaurants, fitness centers, libraries, and some retail in those counties are allowed to reopen with some restrictions including only allowing 50% of capacity and adhering to social distancing guidelines.

Spiritual gatherings are also allowed across the state in all counties.

IDPH Director Sarah Reisetter said on Friday that social distancing must be in place at spiritual gatherings. She added that funerals and weddings are covered as spiritual gatherings, however receptions are not.

Bars, theaters, casinos, social and fraternal clubs, senior citizen centers, amusements such as bowling alleys and amusement parks, museums, aquariums and zoos, skating rinks and skate parks, playgrounds, campgrounds, swimming pools, salons and barbershops, medical spas, tattoo establishments, tanning facilities, massage therapy establishments are to remain closed in all 99 Iowa counties until at least May 15.

Washington and Henry Counties are of the 22 counties not allowed to loosen any restrictions aside from spiritual gatherings through May 15. The other 20 counties are Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Dallas, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fayette, Iowa, Jasper, Johnson, Linn, Louisa, Marshall, Muscatine, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Tama and Woodbury Counties.