Governor Reynolds Tells Iowans Masks Work
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds told Iowans statistic show wearing a mask reduces coronavirus spread, but refused to mandate face coverings.
COVID-19 infections exploded in northwest Iowa over the past week with Sioux County seeing a twenty-eight percent infection rate and Lyon County experiencing a twenty percent increase over the last fourteen days according to the Governor.
Unlike the outbreaks in Ames and Iowa City where the overwhelming number of new cases were college students returning to campus, these new cases in the northwest part of the state are pretty evenly distributed across the different age groups.
Reynolds said contact tracing did not show infections tied to a specific event or activity, but rather happening as people went about the, “course of normal daily life.”
Key to reducing infections are social distancing and wearing masks according to the Governor.
Dr. Caitlyn Pedati, Iowa’s Medical Director pointed to Iowa data showing areas with poor mask wearing compliance have between, “thirty and one hundred thirty percent,” more coronavirus cases than similar districts with high levels of mask wearing. Pedati also cited an examination of virus spread between customers and beauty salon workers. Not one customer visiting a mask wearing cosmetologist contracted the disease.
Based on this information, Reynolds announced a change to Iowa Department of Health guidelines for children and teachers exposed to COVID-19 at school. Going forward, self-quarantine is not required if properly fitting masks were worn the entire time. Both Reynolds and Pedati defended the variance from Centers for Disease Control guidance arguing the new guidance better reflects midwestern experience with the disease spread.
Reynolds did say this change was not a mandate, but rather a suggestion and school districts were still free to pursue whatever strategy they feel is best for their district.