Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today (Wednesday) that more mandated closures are to be lifted in phases over the next two weeks. Beginning Friday, May 22, movie theaters, zoos, aquariums, museums and wedding reception venues will be allowed to reopen with some mitigation measures in place. Pools can also reopen at the end of the week for lap swimming and swim lessons. Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director, Kayla Lyon, announced during the press conference the state’s many campgrounds are to be available to all campers for Memorial Day Weekend. However, youth group sites, shelter houses, lodges, playgrounds, museums and visitor centers are to remain closed. Sites will be limited to six individuals, excluding family groups larger than six, and non-camping guests are not permitted to visit. On Thursday, May 28, bars and other alcohol-serving establishments that have been forced to closed can reopen indoor and outdoor seating at 50 percent capacity with similar limitations to ones placed on restaurants. Reynolds also announced Wednesday that school sponsored events, including high school baseball and softball seasons, will be allowed to begin on June 1. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reports the state’s COVID-19 case count has grown to 15,535 with 238 new cases and 16 additional coronavirus-related deaths since 11 a.m. Tuesday. As for case numbers in the listening area, Calhoun County stands at two confirmed cases, Sac and Carroll at seven, Audubon at 11 and Greene County at 13. Guthrie and Crawford Counties have recorded the most infections in the region with 40 and 409, respectively. For more information on COVID-19 in Iowa, visit coronavirus.iowa.gov.
