As Schools Reopen, Iowa Confirms First Child Death Due to the Coronavirus

iowa due to the coronavirus death child

By Fatima Virrey , Parent Herald Aug 25, 12:48 am

The first death of a child in Iowa due to the coronavirus was recorded in June. However, it was belatedly reported by the state health department last Sunday evening.

The child is five years old. Other detailes, like state residency, however, was not disclosed.

According to reports, the delay in the announcement is because the medical examiner's office has only concluded its investigation last August 6.

Why was the death announced late?

The Iowa Department of Public Health said in a statement that they first ensured the child's identity would remain protected and that the family has been notified. The state health department said, 'We have made every effort to protect the identity of this child, while the family grieves this devastating loss."

According to CBSN Minnesota, the announcement came after The Associated Press asked about information fount on the state health department's website. The question was about the information on the recorded individual under the age of 17 who died in Iowa.

The medical examiner's statement said that a full range of tests was made to the child and that this was a protocol for those who died under the age of 17. Also, there were other tests performed, considering the health history of the child.

School reopenings in Iowa

The announcement of the death of the child due to the coronavirus came one day before the school reopenings in Iowa.

The schools have been ordered to reopen by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. He instructed at least fifty percent in-person instruction.

Because of this order by Gov. Reynolds, state teachers' union from the Iowa City and Des Moines are moving forward with legal action. They are testing the authority of Gov. Reynolds to order schools to offer in-person schooling.

The teachers believe that the order from Gov. Reynolds is not safe for the children and the teachers for now. They also reiterated that the decisions on when to return should be up to the local school boards.

(Photo : Photo by Flora Westbrook from Pexels)
As Schools Reopen, Iowa Confirms First Child Death Due to the Coronavirus

The coronavirus in Iowa

According to reports from the Iowa Department of Public Health, there are around 1036 people who already died due to the coronavirus.

About 90% of those deaths are people who are 61 years old and older. Most of the 90% died due to coronavirus while in a nursing home that experienced an outbreak. Almost 20% of those who died were forty years old and below.

The state health department faced a few issues regarding its credibility, after acknowledging there were erroneously backdated positive and negative cases. The department said it was due to data error.