The state reports 980 nursing home residents have died of Covid and a record 116 Iowa nursing homes now have active Covid-19 outbreaks. Brent Willett is president and C-E-O of the Iowa Health Care Association, which represents the state’s nursing home industry. He says as Covid cases in communities across the state increase, nursing facilities will continue to experience outbreaks.

New state guidelines say nursing homes may — as a last resort – have Covid-positive staff care for residents if the staff wear proper protective equipment.