Barefaced indoor gatherings of more than 25 persons or outdoor gatherings of 100 or more prohibited
Iowa Gov Kim Reynolds took a step closer to a mask mandate when she signed a proclamation continuing the public health emergency proclamation another 30 days.
The proclamation imposes additional public health measures intended to reduce the spread of Covid-19. The requirement that those attending social, community, recreational, leisure or sporting gathering must maintain six feet of distance from other groups continues. Those groups are limited to eight persons unless the entire group is from the same household.
Groups at restaurants, bowling alleys, indoor playgrounds, and pool or bingo halls are limited to eight people unless the entire group lives in the same household as well.
New to the Covid mitigation effort in Iowa is a ban on barefaced events. Gatherings that are indoors with more than 25 persons, or outdoors with 100 persons, are prohibited unless all participants over 2 years old wear masks. The only exception is while eating or drinking.
The proclamation also limits youth athletes at an indoor sporting or recreational gathering to only two spectators each.
The new mitigation efforts go into effect Wednesday at 12:01 am and will continue through Thanksgiving, to Nov. 30.
Reynolds wants Iowans to consider staying home from events where there isn’t social distancing. The proclamation strongly encourages “all Iowans to consider how their choice to adhere to public health mitigation strategies impacts the spread of COVID-19 in their family and community.” Specifically, Reynolds said, “I strongly encourage Iowans to consider avoiding events not adhering to social distancing and mask recommendations and thereby considered high risk including but not limited to weddings, funerals, bridal showers, baby showers, birthday parties, holiday celebrations, conventions, indoor entertainment, spectator sports, private parties, tailgating, and vacationing.”
