A list of Iowa COVID-19 testing locations can be found here.
ECONOMIC RESPONSE
Essential Service Designations:
Governor Reynolds has mentioned that Iowa’s essential services include “health care, emergency services, food production, and supply and manufacturing.” (March 22)
Labor & Workforce Guidance, Standards and Regulations:
Iowa released official reopening guidance for businesses based on sector. Details for select sectors can be found here.
The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division released a three-step enforcement process for bars and restaurants that violate social-distancing requirements. (July 30)
Economic Stimulus & Relief:
Governor Reynolds announced the state would stop offering Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and other federal unemployment benefits. (May 12)
Governor Reynolds announced that theIowa Rent & Utility Assistance Program would open on March 29 to help residents cover past-due rent payments, past-due utility bills, and future rental assistance. (March 24)
Governor Reynolds announced nearly $9 million in housing assistance and homeless shelter operations. (December 7)
Governor Reynolds announced additional funding for the Iowa Eviction & Foreclosure Prevention program. (November 20)
Governor Reynolds announced the launch of the new COVID-19 Residential Utility Disruption Prevention Program, which would provide eligible households with up to $2,000 towards electric, natural gas, and water bills if they were at risk of disconnection due to an inability to pay as a result of a COVID-19 related loss of income. (October 9)
Governor Reynolds announced the launch of the COVID-19 Iowa Eviction & Foreclosure Prevention Program, which would provide up to four months of rent for a maximum of $3,200 to Iowans unable to pay their rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (May 29)
Business Support & Resources:
Governor Reynolds announced a new interagency partnership with Iowa Workforce Development to assist businesses with the reinstatement process through the Iowa Secretary of State’s Fast Track Filing system. Business owners whose companies have been dissolved can utilize a shared online system, which will reduce the reinstatement period from 2-4 weeks to a few days. (March 3)
Governor Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs announced the launch of the Iowa Arts & Cultural Recovery Program, which will provide short-term relief to arts venues, cultural organizations, and creative workers. (December 2)
Governor Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) announced the launch of the Iowa Movie Theatre Relief Program, which would provide short-term relief to eligible movie theatres. (November 6)
Governor Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) announced the launch of the Iowa County Fairs Relief Program, which would provide short-term relief to eligible county and district fairs. (October 26)
Governor Reynolds announced that the Small Business Relief Program would be reopened for bars and taverns that closed as a result of thePublic Health Disaster Emergency proclamation. (September 2)
Governor Reynolds announced that she has allocated approximately $100 million of CARES Act relief funds for a range of agricultural programs to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on farmers, producers, and agricultural industries. (August 25)
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has extended the Disposal Assistance Program and will now expand it to include egg producers. (July 20)
The Iowa Economic Development Authority announced a grant program that will provide businesses with up to $7,500 for unpaid utility bills. (July 17)
SOCIAL RESTRICTIONS
Reopening:
Governor Reynolds signed a bill into law that would prevent state and local governments from including a person’s COVID-19 vaccination status on government-issued IDs. The law would also withhold state funding from local governments or businesses that required customers to prove they are vaccinated. (May 20)
Governor Reynolds extended the public health disaster proclamation through May 30. (May 3)
Governor Reynolds said she opposes “vaccine passports” and is working with the Legislature on steps to limit their use. (April 7)
Governor Reynolds announced the state would allow all residents to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on April 5, contingent on supply. (March 17)
Governor Reynolds announced she would remove restrictions on bars and restaurants and lift social gathering limitations. (December 16)
The Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals updated guidance for long-term care facility visitations to comply with federal standards. (October 7)
SCHOOL PLANNING
K-12:
The Iowa Department of Public Health issued updated COVID-19 guidance for schools and childcare facilities. (May 17)
Governor Reynolds announced he would sign legislationgiving parents the option of sending their children back to in-person classes full–time. (January 29)
Governor Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education announced that $26.2 million would be made available to districts, nonpublic schools, and colleges and universities to increase student internet connectivity. (August 11)
Governor Reynolds reaffirmed that all schools must hold 50 percentof classes in-person. If schools moved primarily to online learning, they would be forced to make up anyremaining days that are notcounted towards instruction time. (August 4)
Governor Reynolds released guidance stating that schools would have to see a COVID-19 positivity rate of at least 15 percent in the county where they are located before they could request to fully transition a school building or district to online learning. (July 30)
State Higher Education:
A list of Iowa universities and colleges planning to reopen in the fall can be found here.
Produced by Marathon Strategies, an independent PR firm that delivers intelligent communications and research solutions. For information, email Phil Singer at [email protected]
