Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced she is extending the state’s partial indoor mask requirement and other current COVID-19 restrictions for another week. Under the current public health proclamation, Iowans are required to wear a mask in public areas indoors. That’s if they are unable to socially distance from those outside of their household for more than 15 minutes.
Indoor gatherings are limited to 15 people, while outdoor gatherings are limited to 30. Restaurants and bars must also issue last call by 10 p.m.
Reynolds said she’s extending the proclamation just one week because Iowa has seen a downward trend in positivity rates, new infections and hospitalizations. But she said she’s considering extending them further.
We still have a long ways to go on our hospitals, but they are seeing some relief. I've said all along will dial up and we'll dial back as appropriate. And so that's the same thing that we've done from the beginning of the pandemic.
The new public health proclamation will be in effect through December 16.
Iowa added another 123 coronavirus-related deaths today, boosting the state's death toll to 3,021, according to state public health records.
The count continues to grow as hospitalization rates, although significantly lower than a week ago, remain high with 900 people hospitalized and 111 COVID-19 patients admitted in the previous 24 hours.
In Woodbury County there have been 65 additional cases reported in the past 24 hours.
