Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds Closes More Businesses and Orders Suspension of Elective and Surgeries and Dental Visits

Governor Kim Reynolds is ordering more businesses to close and adding another week to previous restrictions designed to limit the spread of COVID-19. In addition to bars, restaurants and hair salons that have already been closed, Reynolds has ordered more retail stores that sell things like books, clothes, flowers and furniture to close. All those business closures will now be in place through April 7th.

The governor issued a public health emergency proclamation and ordered bars and restaurants closed at noon on March 17th. She added hair and nail salons and swimming pools to the closure list this week — with the closings to last through March 31st. The closures, by the governor’s decree, now extend through Tuesday, April 7th.

The governor has also used her emergency authority to order the suspension of all elective surgeries and dental visits, unless it’s an emergency situation.

State officials reported 34 more cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in Iowa — for a total of 179 positive cases.

Reynolds says because of that, she cannot speculate on when the business closures she’s ordered will be lifted.

Reynolds will hold a news conference exclusively for Radio Iowa stations over the noon hour tomorrow (Friday).