DES MOINES, Iowa — Gov. Kim Reynolds announced a relaxation of some of the social-distancing measures imposed March 14 in an effort to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus. The relaxation does not affect Dallas County.
Reynolds’ new proclamation continues the State Public Health Emergency Declaration until May 27 but loosens social distancing measures in 77 Iowa counties beginning Friday, May 1. The proclamation continues other restrictions in the declaration until 11:50 p.m. Friday, May 15.
In the 77 counties, the proclamation permits the reopening, in a limited fashion and with public-health measures in place, of restaurants, fitness centers, malls, libraries, race tracks and certain other retail establishments.
The proclamation also lifts restrictions on religious and spiritual gatherings so long as the religious and spiritual gatherings use “reasonable public health measures,” the governor said.
All other regulatory relief previously provided to affected Iowans was also extended until Wednesday, May 27. The full proclamation is online in its entirety: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.
All counties are included in the relaxation except Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Dallas, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fayette, Henry, Iowa, Jasper, Johnson, Linn, Louisa, Marshall, Muscatine, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Tama, Washington and Woodbury counties.
