DES MOINES, Iowa - An unreleased report from the White House Coronavirus Task Force shows Des Moines to be one of the top 10 hot spots for the virus.
NBC News reports it obtained undisclosed data from the task force dated May 7th that showed Des Moines at number 8 on a list of "locations with increasing cases", with 1,467 cases in the previous seven days - at 94.3 percent rise.
The list of ten locations included Nashville, Tennessee and Amarillo, Texas as well as smaller towns, all in the Midwest or South.
Polk County was number eight on a county summary of "locations with increasing cases", with a 107.3 percent spike in cases over the seven day tracking period.
Last week, Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie extended both the closure of the city's administration buildings and a freeze on permits for public events and activities until July 1st. The moratorium includes events on city streets such as the Downtown Farmers’ Market and the Des Moines Arts Festival.
“We have seen a significant outbreak of COVID-19 and we’re still uncertain when those numbers might peak,” Cownie said. “That’s why the smart thing to do is limit events and activities that congregate crowds and increase exposure.”