All Iowans are gamblers in Kim’s COVID Casino – The Gazette

Iowas gaming parlors are closed. Theres no sports betting without sports. Slots are silent.

But thanks to Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa has plenty of high stakes gambling action, in every county, city and burg.

Were all rolling the dice in Kims COVID Casino now.

We have seen some positive curve-bending lately in the states effort to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Hospitalizations have been declining for days, although cases and deaths continue to mount. Theres been more testing and contact-tracing, key steps to containing the virus and bending the curve even further.

But testing is just ramping up. Iowa still is testing thousands fewer daily than needed. Test Iowas effort has been slow out of the gate and plagued by problems. And yet, the Utah tech firms behind the testing already have hit the jackpot.

We could stand on this hand, see how it plays out for a few more weeks. The curve may indeed flatten. Remain disciplined. Play it safe.

Instead, on Wednesday, Reynolds announced more business reopenings, while rolling back many protective measures in all 99 counties, starting Friday. Shes gambling that we wont see a second sharp surge in virus cases, even as she maintains her own modified quarantine after mingling with unmasked White House officials on her recent victory tour. Shes also quit sending out detailed daily reports on virus numbers. Dont fixate on deaths. Theyre just lagging indicators.

Have we reached the peak? Probably? Maybe? The predictive model still is under wraps.

But its no guts, no glory at COVID Casino. Its time to get back in the game. Big bucks and political power are on the table. Baby needs a new pair of shoes, and there still are plenty of ventilators for granny.

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Sure, without more testing and tracing, were flying in fog, perhaps on a casino owners borrowed jet. But, oh, what a rush. How will it all turn out? The suspense is killing us.

Standing the economy back up is necessary. But there will be no real, sustained recovery if Iowans are unconvinced weve handled the pandemic. Picking the economy over public health is a false bet. Solving the public health problem is key to economic recovery and restoring confidence.

Theres certainly an economic risk to sticking with protective measures longer and resisting more reopening for a couple more weeks. But consider the consequences of pulling that big reopening slot machine arm too soon. A second spike and a return to restrictions would be even more devastating. Instead of bouncing back, Iowas health and economic problems would intensify, while more Iowans fall ill or become lagging indicators.

Betting the lives of our most vulnerable on the personal responsibility of others before we know more about the pandemics grip here is a reckless wager, leaving thousands of Iowans and their loved ones in fearful limbo. They cant simply adjust and move on.

Dr. Anthony Fauci warned the U.S. Senate this week that rapid reopening could have dire consequences. Instead, Iowas putting its money on the whiplash wisdom of the casino wizard in the White House, who is willing to bet our lives on his reelection prospects. Our guts, his glory.

So were all gamblers now, living in the COVID Casino. Win big! Or maybe buy the farm! Masks optional.

(319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@tehgazette.com

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All Iowans are gamblers in Kim's COVID Casino - The Gazette