DES MOINES – On May 26, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a new proclamation continuing the Public Health Disaster Emergency until June 25, 2020.
As previously announced, the proclamation permits bars, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and social and fraternal clubs may reopen on May 28 with the same public health measures as restaurants in place.
The proclamation also permits the reopening on June 1 of additional establishments, including outdoor performance venues, casinos, bowling alleys, amusement parks, skating rinks, skate parks, outdoor playgrounds.
The proclamation again permits social, community, recreational, leisure, and sporting gatherings and events of more than 10 people if public health measures are implemented, including limiting attendance to 50% of the venue capacity and maintaining six feet of distance between those attending. This also allows practices, games and competitions for youth and adult baseball, softball and individual sports such as running, biking, swimming, tennis and golf to resume with appropriate public health measures in place.
And the proclamation extends regulatory relief to those affected by this public health emergency until June 25.
Effective at 12:01 a.m. on May 28 and until 11:59 p.m. on June 17:
A. Restaurants and bars: A restaurant or bar, including a wedding reception venue, winery, brewery, distillery, country club or other social or fraternal club, may reopen or remain open to serve food and beverages on its premises, but only to the extent that it complies with the following requirements:
(1) Capacity limited: The establishment must limit the number of customers present at indoor or outdoor spaces to 50 percent of its normal operating seating capacity to ensure adequate spacing of groups. An establishment that ordinarily has a larger operating capacity for patrons standing is not prohibited from adding additional tables and chairs, provided that doing so complies with all other provisions of this Proclamation and any other applicable law.
(2) Groups limited: The establishment must limit party size seated together to no more than ten people.
(3) Social distancing: The establishment must ensure at least six feet of physical distance between each group or individual dining or drinking alone. Seating at booths closer than six feet may satisfy this requirement if the booths are separated by a barrier of a sufficient height to fully separate seated customers. All patrons must have a seat at a table or bar, and an establishment must limit patrons from congregating together closer than six feet.
(4) Self-service prohibited: The establishment must not have any self-service of food, including buffets or salad bars.
(5) Live performances: An establishment may have live music performances, provided that any performer remains at least six feet away from patrons and other performers, and the establishment does not permit patrons from congregating together closer than six feet.
(6) Other social distancing, hygiene, and public health measures: The restaurant shall also implement reasonable measures under the circumstances of each restaurant 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 Inspections and Appeals and the Iowa Department of Public Health.
Reopening of businesses June 1
Effective at 12:01 a.m. on June 1 and until 11:59 p.m. on June 17:
A. Outdoor Performance Venues: An outdoor theater or performance venue where live performances are held may open or reopen to patrons, but only to the extent that it complies with the following requirements:
(1) Capacity limited: The establishment must limit the number of patrons present in any grandstands or other permanent seating to 50 percent of its normal operating capacity to ensure adequate spacing of groups.
(2) Social distancing: The establishment must ensure at least six feet of physical distance between each group or individual attending alone when seated.
(3) 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 and, for any food or beverage service, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals.
* Until June 1, all outdoor theaters and performance venues where live performances are held shall continue to be closed.
B. Casinos and gaming facilities: A casino or other facility conducting pari-mutuel wagering or gaming operations may reopen, but only to the extent that it complies with the following requirements:
(1) Capacity limited: The establishment must limit the number of patrons present on the gaming floor and waging area to 50 percent of its gaming or wagering positions as determined by the Racing and Gaming Commission.
(2) Social distancing: The establishment must ensure that all wagering and gaming positions are spaced at least six feet apart or take other appropriate measures to ensure that more closely spaced positions are not used. Positions closer than six feet may satisfy this requirement if the positions are separated by a barrier of a sufficient height to fully separate patrons at each position.
(3) Food and Beverage Service: The establishment shall comply with all the requirements of bars and restaurants in this Proclamation for any food and beverage service and shall not have any self-service of food, including buffets or salad bars.
(4) 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 and, for any food or beverage service, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals.
* Until June 1, all such facilities shall continue to be closed, except that a race track conducting pari-mutuel wagering may reopen provided that it does not permit any spectators to attend its events in person.
C. Amusements: A bingo hall, bowling alley, pool hall, arcade or amusement park may reopen, but only to the extent that the establishment limits the number of customers present to 50 percent of its maximum legal occupancy capacity and takes reasonable measures under the circumstances of each establishment to ensure social distancing of employees and patrons, 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. Until June 1, all bingo halls, bowling alleys, pool halls, arcades and amusement parks shall continue to be closed.
D. Skating rinks and skate parks: An indoor or outdoor roller or ice skating rink or skate parks may reopen, but only to the extent that the establishment limits the number of customers present to 50% of its maximum legal occupancy capacity and takes reasonable measures under the circumstances of each establishment to ensure social distancing of employees and patrons, 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. Until June 1, 2020, all indoor or outdoor roller or ice skating rinks and skate parks shall continue to be closed.
E. Outdoor playgrounds: An outdoor playground may reopen. Until June 1, 2020, all outdoor playgrounds shall continue to be closed.
Extensions of closures
Until 11:59 p.m. on June 17:
A. Theaters: All indoor theaters and other indoor performance venues at which live performances are held shall continue to be closed.
B. Senior citizen centers and adult daycare facilities: All facilities that conduct adult day services or other senior citizen centers shall continue to be closed.
C. Indoor playgrounds: All indoor playgrounds or children’s play centers shall continue to be closed. This order does not apply to playgrounds in private residences or childcare facilities.
Mass gatherings
Effective 12:01 a.m. on June 1, 2020, and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on June 17:
A. A social, community, recreational, leisure, or sporting gathering or event, including but not limited to a parade, festival, convention, or fundraiser, of more than ten people may be held, but only if the gathering complies with all other relevant provisions in this proclamation and the following requirements:
(1) Capacity limited: The gathering organizer must limit the number of participants present in any indoor venue to 50 percent of its normal operating capacity to ensure adequate spacing of groups. The gathering organizer must limit the number of participants present in any outdoor venue with grandstands or other permanent seating to 50 percent of its normal operating capacity and the number of participants in other outdoor settings to a number that permits the social distancing required by paragraph 2.
(2) Social distancing: The gathering organizer must ensure at least six feet of physical distance between each group or individual attending alone.
(3) Other social distancing, hygiene, and public health measures: The gathering organizer shall also implement reasonable measures under the circumstances of each gathering to ensure social distancing of gathering 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 and, for any food service, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals.
* Any social, community, recreational, leisure, and sporting gatherings and events of more than 10 people that does not comply with these requirements shall continue to be prohibited at all locations and venues.
B. Non-school sporting and recreational events: Practices, games and competitions for baseball, softball, and individual sports, such as running, biking, swimming, tennis, and golf, are not prohibited by this section even where athletes may have some contact within six feet, provided that the organizer of such activities and events implements reasonable measures under the circumstances of each gathering to ensure reasonable social distancing, 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.
C. 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 host 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.