New Rules Iowans Must Follow at Restaurants and Bars

On Friday, June 12 capacity restrictions were lifted on Iowa businesses, stores and places of worship as the state continues to reopen in spite of the fact that COVID-19 cases continue to rise.

In a press conference earlier this week, Governor Reynolds announced new rules that will allow stores, restaurants and bars to fully reopen, without having to observe a 50% capacity rule.

With more people being called back to former jobs and other businesses also hiring, the hope is that unemployment numbers will fall. That could be a small blessing as July 31 approaches, marking the current end of benefits for those who were without work over the past several months.

The proclamation requires businesses to continue to provide distancing measures to keep patrons 6 feet apart. These rules apply to bars and restaurants, hair salons, race tracks, casinos and churches among others.

There are also multiple guidelines for hospitals to follow in order to resume elective, non-life threatening procedures.

Shopping malls are OK to open but play areas for kids in common areas are to remain closed.

Parades, festivals, farmers markets and other social gatherings may also be held with certain expectations that 6-feet distancing guidelines will be observed.

According to Iowa's News Now there have been 331 new coronavirus cases, 9 deaths and 274 recoveries in the past 24 hours. Iowa's official COVID-19 case count reports over 200,000 tests have been administered with 11% testing positive.

The Linn County Public Health department continues to track cases with a case count dashboard.