Gov. Reynolds to let Public Health Proclamation expire

DES MOINES, Iowa - Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa signed the final extension of the state's Public Health Disaster Emergency Proclamation Thursday. The proclamation will expire Feb. 15 at 11:59 p.m.

The expiration of the proclamation also comes with changes in how Iowa will report COVID-19 data. Reynolds said the states two COVID-19 websites will be decommissioned on Feb. 16. 

The public will still be able to access COVID-19 related information online through other state and federal resources, but not through coronavirus.iowa.gov or vaccinateiowa.gov. 

IDPH will begin to report COVID-19 in a similar manner to how it reports the flu by reporting any relevant information weekly on its website. 

Director of the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) Kelly Garcia said the state health department will continue analyze COVID-19 and other public health risk data daily.

"The new format will include data points that Iowans are used to seeing, but moves us closer to existing reporting standards for other respiratory viruses," Garica said. 

"This new phase also assures that our teams can return to their pre-pandemic responsibilities, and refocus on areas where the pandemic has taken a hard toll," Garcia said.

The data will include positive tests since March 2020 and in the previous seven days, cases by county, variants and deaths since March 2020 among others. The website will also allow access to vaccine information such as total series and boosters completed and vaccinations by county.

The new report will be available at idph.iowa.gov starting Feb. 16.