DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A doctor in Des Moines has started an online petition to push Governor Reynolds to issue a stay-at-home order, according to KCCI-TV. Doctor Austin Baeth is an internal medicine physician at UnityPoint. Baeth tells KCCI a stay-at-home order in Iowa would provide more clarity. He says piecemealing rounds of business closures is not effective.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Public Health has been notified of 85 additional positive cases of Iowans with COVID-19, for a total of 699 positive cases. Two additional deaths were reported; 2 older adults in Linn County for a total of 11 Iowa deaths.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – On Thursday, Gov. Kim Reynolds extended the closure of schools until April 30 and commended Iowa school districts for shifting to virtual learning. Many rural districts say they don’t have the resources to do it. Access to devices and connectivity are major drawbacks.

IOWA (IRN) – Menards stores are limiting who can come into the stores during the pandemic. According to their website, children under 16 and pets are not allowed inside. The company also says anyone who looks under the age of 16 will be asked to show identification. No reason is given for the restriction. There are 20 Menards in Iowa.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Wednesday night is “Balcony Night” at Summit House, a senior living community in Des Moines. Coronavirus rules call for people to remain 6 feet apart, so instead of gathering in each other’s apartments or various spots around the building, the residents have been standing on their balconies on Wednesdays and chit-chatting. The Des Moines Register reports that on Wednesday night, 17-year-old Lily Ungs, a ballet dancer and granddaughter of one of the couples living in the facility, performed a ballet routine in the parking lot for residents to enjoy.