Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announces new public health restrictions; signs proclamation

"Today, 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 [lnks.gd] 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. 1. 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. 1. 1. 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. 1. 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 the 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 hosts 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. 1. 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. 1. 1. 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."