Democrats call on Reynolds to reverse her decision rejecting federal COVID-19 aid to schools

Iowa Democrats continue to hammer what they called Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds’ “failed leadership” in confronting the COVID-19 crisis as students return to school this week.

The Iowa Department of Public Health this week reported another 42 deaths, which happened over a month’s time, due to the coronavirus since last week’s report. That brings the state’s total to 6,268 Iowans who have died as a result of the virus. The state also reported 7,619 positive tests in the past seven days. Seventeen percent of the positive tests were among those under age 17, an increase from 13 percent.

“Yet Gov. Reynolds continues to ignore public health experts and the pleas from parents” to release more data, state Rep. Ross Wilburn, D-Ames, who also is chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, said during a virtual news conference Thursday.

He repeated the party’s demand last week that Reynolds reverse her earlier decision to reject $95 million in federal funds that could be used for COVID-19 testing in schools. Democrats also called for the governor to return to daily — rather than weekly — reporting to the public of COVID-19 data and allow school districts to protect students and teachers by following guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on using masks. Legislation signed into law by the governor earlier this year prohibits local school districts from requiring students to wear masks in schools.

Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/democrats-calls-on-reynolds-to-reverse-decision-to-reject-federal-covid-19-assistance/
(Cedar Rapids Gazette)