By Beacon Staff
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds arrived in West Burlington an hour earlier than expected Tuesday morning (June 23), using the extra time to check out the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) testing clinic at the Des Moines County Fairground.
Des Moines County Emergency Coordinator Gina Hardin was there to meet her, as was West Burlington Mayor Hans Trousil. Burlington Mayor Jon Billups, who was at work when he was notified of the governor’s early arrival, hurried to Southeastern Community College and met with the governor before she left.
During an exclusive interview with The Beacon, Reynolds touched on the inconsistent reporting of positive coronavirus tests in Des Moines County. Though the numbers have steadied now, for a few weeks, the number of positive cases fluctuated up and down every few days.
Des Moines County Health officials attributed the changing number to a reporting error within the Iowa Department of Public Health, centered around confusion over cases in Des Moines County and cases in the city of Des Moines.
Reynolds could not confirm if that was the case but said she would look into it.
“I don’t know. It might have been. I tend to look at the numbers. So sometimes there are some adjustments when those cases come in,” she said. “I’m not familiar with that, but I can ask and check. That does happen occasionally when they attribute them to the wrong county.”
After her West Burlington visit, Reynolds was on her way to Fort Madison to deliver PPE equipment. Information about that visit will be added later today.
Photo 1 by William Smith
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds talks with Des Moines County Emergency Coordinator Gina Hardin prior to visiting the COVID-19 testing facility in West Burlington. She wore a mask inside the testing facility.
Photo by Anthony Dewitt
Reynolds speaks to health care workers at the COVID-19 testing facility in West Burlington.