Iowa's GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds is essentially dropping all state COVID-19 regulations for schools and businesses and letting the virus fall where it may.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will lift the state's limited mask requirement on Sunday, along with the social distance and other limitations she had in place for businesses and social gatherings.
Her latest coronavirus emergency proclamation, issued Friday afternoon and effective 12:01 a.m. Sunday, instead "strongly encourages Iowans, businesses and organizations to take reasonable public health measures consistent with guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health," Reynolds' spokesperson, Pat Garrett, said.
Since mid-November, Reynolds has required Iowans two years of age and older to wear masks if they were in indoor areas and spent 15 minutes or more within 6 feet of a person not in their households. The rule carried several exceptions.
Her previous proclamation also required social distancing between groups at bars, restaurants, casinos, fitness centers and other establishments, as well as at social gatherings and sporting events.
"I strongly encourage that all businesses or other employers remaining open with in-person operations take reasonable measures under the circumstances of each establishment to ensure the health of employees, patrons and members of the public, including social distancing practices, increased hygiene practices and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 consistent with guidance issued by the Iowa Department of Public Health," Reynolds' latest proclamation states.
I can't think of any scientific, medical, or public health reason to lift masking and social distancing right now in any US state, and it's clear Reynolds is going to blame Joe Biden when the state's COVID-19 numbers skyrocket by March 1. I fully expect businesses will begin to refuse to serve people with masks very soon.
Watch this space, because Iowa is going to become a death zone within weeks, and it all could have been avoided.
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