DES MOINES, Iowa – On Tuesday, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a new declaration continuing the Public Health Disaster Emergency.
Effective at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16, 2020, the proclamation permits bars, taverns, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and night clubs to reopen in four counties: Black Hawk, Dallas, Linn, and Polk counties. It also removes the restrictions on hours that alcohol may be sold in restaurants in those counties. And it clarifies the social distancing requirements that apply to bars and restaurants throughout the entire state.
Bars, taverns, wineries, breweries, distilleries, night clubs continue to be closed in Johnson and Story counties. They may continue to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption off-premises. Restaurants in these two counties are still permitted to remain open but must stop selling and serving alcoholic beverages after 10:00 p.m.
Reynolds ordered the closings on August 27.
The proclamation also continues to strongly encourage all Iowans age 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.
These adjusted public health measures remain in effect until September 20, 2020, unless Reynolds extends the Public Health Disaster Emergency before that date.
