Gov. Reynolds signs new proclamation continuing State Public Health Emergency Declaration to Dec. 10

Tue, 11/10/2020 – 12:23

Today, Gov. Reynolds signed a new proclamation continuing the Public Health Disaster Emergency for another 30 days. The proclamation imposes a number of additional public health measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. These new measures will be effective at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11 and will continue until 11:59 p.m. on November 30, 2020. To view a summary of enhanced mitigation measures, click here. 

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 these 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 excepts when eating and drinking. In addition to these distancing and masking requirements, at an indoor youth sporting or recreational gathering, only two spectators are permitted for each youth athlete. 

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.  

The proclamation also states “I continue to strongly encourage all Iowans two or older to wear a mask or other face covering when in public settings, especially in circumstances when it is not possible to remain six feet away from others outside their household, unless it is unsafe to do so because of health or disability.” 

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. 

In order to discourage any unnecessary gathering in workplace settings, the proclamation also orders all employers to evaluate whether any more of their employees can feasibly work remotely and to the extent reasonable, shall take steps to enable such employees to work from home. 

And 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, 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.” 

Finally, the proclamation also again extends the suspension of weight limits for transportation of agricultural supplies and commodities on state highways from the fall harvest.  And it extends many of the previously issued regulatory relief measures necessary to respond to this public health disaster, including those related to healthcare, professional licensure, educational workforce, and expirations of driver’s licenses.   

The proclamation now remains in effect until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, December 10, 2020.

Summary of Enhanced Public Health Measures 11.17.20

(Effective Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 12:01 a.m. until Thursday, Dec. 10 at 11:59 p.m.)

Mask Use: Indoor spaces open to the public & State executive branch buildings

• Masks required when individuals are within 6 feet of one another for 15 minutes or longer with certain exceptions.

Gathering Restrictions: Social, community, business, or leisure gatherings

• No more than 15 people indoors and 30 people outdoors

• These restrictions apply to wedding receptions, family gatherings, conventions, and other nonessential gatherings but do not apply to gatherings that occur during the ordinary course of business or government.

Sporting and Recreational Events: Youth and adult group sporting and recreational gathering are prohibited except for high school, college, and professional sports.

High School Sports & Extracurriculars: Sporting, recreational, and extracurricular events

• Only two spectators permitted for each high school athlete, performer or competitor, and must wear a mask and maintain 6 feet distance from other spectators

• Students can be closer than six feet and are not required to wear masks

Restaurants and Bars: Restaurant or bar, including a wedding reception venue, winery, brewery, distillery, country club, or other social or fraternal club

• Closed to in-person services at 10:00pm

• No bar seating

• Masks required when not seated (while playing games, dancing, etc.)

• Six feet distancing between groups

• Groups limited to 8 people unless larger group is all same household

• Seated when eating or drinking and limit congregating

Fitness Centers: Fitness centers, health clubs, health spas, gyms

• Group fitness activities are prohibited

Casinos & Gaming Facilities: Masks required except when seated to eat or drink.

Closer/Prolonged Contact Establishments: Bowling alleys, pool halls, bingo halls, arcades, indoor playgrounds, children’s play centers

• Closed to in-person services at 10:00pm

• Mask required when not seated to eat or drink

• Ensure that groups and individuals are six feet apart at establishment

• Groups limited to eight people unless larger group is all same household

Nonessential/elective surgeries: A hospital must reduce its in-patient nonessential surgeries to a level to ensure it is use at least 50% fewer beds than it did on average during September 2020.

Summary of Enhanced Public Health Measures 11.18.20

Gov. Reynolds signed a new Public Health Disaster proclamation that modifies existing
public health measures to provide clarity and simplify the measures applicable to recreational activities and fitness centers.
Except for high school, collegiate, or professional sporting or recreational gatherings, the proclamation only permits sporting and recreational activities when all participants in the gathering—including athletes, coaches, or instructors—maintain six feet of physical distance at all times. Activities where closer contact is required or reasonably unavoidable, such as a wrestling meet or basketball game, are prohibited. Spectators are also limited at all gatherings to two per athlete and must be social distanced six feet apart. And all participants, except for athletes, must wear masks. These requirements also apply to group classes or activities at fitness centers and gyms.
The proclamation does not change any measures in place for high school-sponsored, collegiate, or professional sporting or recreational activities. High school sports and extracurricular activities continue to be permitted, even where close contact may occur. But spectators at games or events are limited to two per student and are required to wear a mask.
The proclamation is effective immediately and continues to expire on December 10, 2020.
The full proclamation is online its entirety and the substantive provisions are below:
GATHERINGS
Section 1. Pursuant to Iowa Code § 135.144 (3), and in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Public Health, unless otherwise modified by subsequent proclamation or order of the Iowa Department of Public Health, I order that effective immediately and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on December 10, 2020:
1. Indoor gatherings of more than 15 people prohibited: Social, community, business, or leisure gatherings or events of more than 15 people are prohibited at all indoor locations and venues unless explicitly permitted by this Proclamation or all members of the gathering live in the same household. This includes wedding and funeral receptions, family gatherings, festivals, conventions, fundraisers, and other nonessential gatherings and events where people who do not ordinarily live or work together congregate indoors. This section does not apply to restrict gatherings that occur during the ordinary course of business or government between employees or members of the public, including
but not limited to gatherings in an office or manufacturing workplace, normal retail operations, or other establishments explicitly addressed in this Proclamation.
2. Outdoor gatherings of more than 30 people prohibited: Social, community, business, or leisure gatherings or events of more than 30 people are prohibited at all outdoor locations and venues unless explicitly permitted by this Proclamation or all members of the gathering live in the same household. This includes wedding and funeral receptions, family gatherings, festivals, conventions, fundraisers, and other nonessential gatherings and events where people who do not ordinarily live or work together congregate outdoors. This section does not apply to restrict gatherings that occur during the ordinary course of business or government between employees or members of the public, including but not limited to gatherings in an office or manufacturing workplace, normal retail operations, or other establishments explicitly addressed in this Proclamation.
3. Sporting and recreational gatherings : Except for high school, collegiate, or professional sporting or recreational gatherings, all sporting or recreational gatherings of any size are prohibited unless the gathering organizer and all participants comply with the following requirements:
1. Social Distancing Required: All participants in the gathering—including all athletes, coaches, or instructors—must maintain six feet of physical distance between all other participants at all times. Activities where closer contact is required or reasonably unavoidable, such as a wrestling meet or basketball game, are prohibited.
2. Spectators limited: The gathering organizer and all spectators must ensure that spectators are limited to no more than two spectators for each athlete participating in the gathering. Spectators may only be present during the time that athlete is participating in a practice, game, meet, or competition. The gathering organizer and all spectators must also ensure at least six feet of physical distance between each group of spectators.
1. Masks required: Although athletes are not required to wear a mask while participating in a gathering, all other participants over the age of two shall wear a mask or other face covering for all gatherings.
2. High School-sponsored sporting and extracurricular events : Sporting, recreational, and other extracurricular gatherings sponsored by a high school, including practices, games, competitions, and performances are not prohibited by this section, provided that all participants in the gathering comply with the following requirements:
1. Spectators limited: The gathering organizer and all spectators must ensure that spectators are limited to no more than two spectators for each student athlete, performer, or competitor participating in the gathering. Spectators may only be present during the time that student or the student’s team is participating in a game, meet, or competition. The gathering organizer and all spectators must also ensure at least six feet of physical distance
between each group of spectators.
2. Spectator masks: Although student participants are not required to wear a mask while
participating in an event, all spectators over the age of two shall wear a mask or other face
covering for all gatherings. 3. Spiritual and religious gatherings : Spiritual and religious gatherings, including any funerals or weddings, are not prohibited by this section. But a church, synagogue, or other host of a spiritual or religious gathering shall implement reasonable measures under the circumstances of each gathering to ensure social distancing of employees, volunteers, and other participants, 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.
REOPENING OF BUSINESSES AND ESTABLISHMENTS
Section 2. Pursuant to Iowa Code § 135.144 (3), and in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Public Health, unless otherwise modified by subsequent proclamation or order of the Iowa Department of Public Health, I order that effective immediately and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on December 10, 2020:
1. Fitness centers: A fitness center, health club, health spa, or gym may reopen or remain open, but only to the extent that it complies with the following requirements:
1. Social distancing: The establishment must ensure that all equipment, such as treadmills,
bikes, weight machines, benches, and power racks, are spaced at least six feet apart or take other appropriate measures to ensure that more closely spaced equipment is not used.
2. Group activities: Any group activities or classes must be limited to a number of people that permits maintaining a distance of six feet apart at all times, and the establishment shall ensure that all such activities and classes comply with the requirements for sporting and recreational gatherings in this Proclamation.
1. Other social distancing, hygiene, and public health measures : The establishment shall also implement reasonable measures under the circumstances of each establishment to ensure social distancing of employees and customers, 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.