Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issues a proclamation for new COVID-19 guidelines

Governor Reynolds is continuing the Public Health Disaster Emergency for another 30 days, imposing a number of additional public health measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.  The new order takes effect after midnight on Wednesday morning and will continue until 11:59 p.m. on November 30th.

The proclamation continues the requirements that those attending any social, community, recreational, leisure or sporting gathering must maintain six feet distancing from other groups. But it now also requires that those groups are limited to 8 people unless the entire group is from the same household. Additionally, all gatherings that occur indoors with more than 25 people, or outdoors with more than 100 people, are prohibited unless all participants over 2 years old wear masks except when eating and drinking. In addition to these distancing and masking requirements, only two spectators are permitted for each youth athlete at indoor youth sporting or recreational gatherings.

Customers and employees are also now required to wear masks at salons, barbershops, massage therapy establishments, tattoo establishments, tanning facilities, and other establishments providing personal services.

Bars and restaurants continue to be required to ensure six feet of physical distance between each group or individual dining or drinking; to ensure all patrons have a seat at a table or bar and consume alcohol or food while seated; and to limit congregating together closer than six feet. And a group seated together is now limited to 8 people unless the entire group is from the same household.

Bowling alleys, pool halls, bingo halls, arcades, indoor playgrounds, and children's play centers are now required to ensure that groups and individuals remain six feet apart at the establishment. And groups at those establishments must also be limited to 8 people unless the entire group is from the same household.

Said the governor, "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 vacations."