Hunter
07/21/20
Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague announced Tuesday afternoon that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he’s issued an order requiring every person in the city to wear a face covering when in a public place.
The mayor cites a section of the Iowa Code that says a city can set standards “more stringent than those imposed by state law, unless a state law provides otherwise” to justify the order, adding that Governor Kim Reynolds issued a proclamation of public health disaster emergency on March 17th.
In the order, Teague specifically mentions places where face coverings must be worn, including grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores, retail stores, outside if unable to stay six feet away from others, and on public transportation. Teague says that no business may provide service to a customer or allow a customer to enter their business without the customer having a face covering properly situated. Businesses are being instructed to post signs to that effect at the entrance to their businesses.
There are some places where people would be exempt from the order, including when traveling in a personal vehicle alone or with household members, jogging or biking outside, and in a restaurant while patrons are in the process of eating or drinking.
Children two and younger are exempt, as are those actively engaged in a public safety role.
Teague says that anyone caught violating the order would be subject to a simple misdemeanor charge. The order is set to expire this September 15th.
The entire order can be accessed at
www8.iowa-city.org/WebLink/0/edoc/1952773/MaskOrder07-21-2020.pdf.