By Beacon Staff
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Monday that some businesses in 77 of Iowa's 99 counties can reopen to the public this Friday with restrictions.
However, Des Moines County is not one of them. Also not on the list is Henry and Louisa counties in southeast Iowa. Restrictions on businesses in these counties (and the other 19 counties not on the governor's list) will not be eased until at least May 15, with current mitigation measures remaining in place.
Also, NOT included in Monday's announcement of eased restrictions are Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Dallas, Dubuque, Fayette, Iowa, Jasper, Johnson, Linn, Marshall, Muscatine, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Tama, Washington, and Woodbury counties.
At Monday's press conference, Reynolds said the move is part of a "targeted approach" loosening restrictions in counties identified as having no coronavirus activity or where cases have been low or are reducing.
Businesses and organizations in the 77 counties who can reopen to the public beginning this Friday include:
• Restaurants, fitness centers, and retail stores can operate at 50 percent of normal operating capacity;
• Malls can also open at 50 percent operating capacity, but must keep play areas and other common seating areas, such as food courts, closed;
• Social, community, recreational and leisure sporting events can open with limits to 10 people;
• Spiritual and religious gatherings that adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Reynolds said these businesses must continue to implement social distancing measures until further notice. She also urged vulnerable Iowans, including those with underlying health conditions and older Iowans, to limit their interactions.
The Iowa Governor’s office reported Des Moines County’s first COVID-19 death on Sunday. The person was between 61 and 80-years-old. Additional details about the patient, including when the person succumbed to the virus, have not been released.