WEST DES MOINES, Iowa - Vice President Mike Pence praised Governor Kim Reynolds for Iowa's response to the COVID-19/coronvirus pandemic during his visit in Des Moines Friday.
Pence has called Iowa a success story and Friday said Iowa is “leading the way” with coronavirus response efforts.
His comments took place as Iowa has seen a surge in cases in recent weeks, while Governor Reynolds has eased COVID-19 restrictions and allowed increasingly more businesses to open with restrictions.
The state has almost 12,000 coronavirus cases and more than 250 deaths.
A New York Times study showed Iowa has some of the fastest growing outbreaks in the country, with Des Moines ranking number five on its list. Pence himself said Des Moines is one of the hot spots the White House Coronavirus Task Force is watching because of the growth of COVID-19 cases.
Pence was joined in his presentation in Iowa by the state's two Republican Senators, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, along with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. The heads of Tyson Foods and Smithfield Foods also spoke at the gathering at Hy-Vee headquarters.
Pence praised the country'e food supply chain, days after Perdue and Reynolds said stores wold have a full stock of meat within 10 days during a White House meeting with President Trump.