Gov. Kim Reynolds says she has spoken on the phone with Dr. Anthony Fauci and that the doctor told her Iowa and Nebraska are "on the same page" as far as the federal guidance he's providing other states.

Last week, Reynolds said Fauci "maybe doesn't have all the information" about Iowa's efforts to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

Fauci, a key figure in the federal government's coronavirus response, said Thursday on CNN that he didn't understand why all states hadn't ordered residents to shelter in place. Iowa is one of only a few states in the country without a shelter-in-place order, although Reynolds has closed schools and many businesses and forbidden gatherings of more than 10 people.

"If you look at what's going on in this country, I just don't understand why we're not doing that," Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, added on CNN. "We really should be."

In her tweet, Reynolds said she had spoken with Fauci and Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts.

"Had a productive and positive phone call w/ Dr. Fauci and @GovRicketts today... Dr. Fauci was 100% supportive, saying that IA and NE are “on the same page” with guidance he’s providing other states," Reynolds tweeted Monday afternoon.

Ricketts also tweeted about the call, saying Fauci "supports our plans and says our states are 'on the same page' with the direction he's giving."

On Monday, Fauci applauded the approach taken by the two midwestern governors.

“I had good conversations with the governor of Nebraska and the governor of Iowa. It’s interesting that functionally, even though they have not given the strict stay at home — what they are doing is really functionally equivalent to that. We had a really good conversation with both of the governors," Fauci said during a White House press briefing on Monday.

"When I had mentioned that, I think there was a public response that they weren’t really doing anything at all and they really are doing a very good job. Both of them. Those are the only two that I spoke to. But it was a really good conversation. I want to make sure people understand that just because they don’t have a very strict stay at home order, they have in place a lot of things that are totally compatible with what everyone else is doing.”

According to the New York Times, Iowa and Nebraska are among only five states that do not have statewide or regional orders that residents should stay home unless they have to leave.

Reynolds has argued that the school and business closures she has implemented in Iowa are equivalent to a shelter-in-place order. On Monday, she added to the list of businesses she is ordering to close through April 30 and again urged Iowans to stay home.

"I believe that most Iowans are being responsible, but I need every Iowan to take responsibility for their health and the health of others," she said. "This week is critical. Stay home. The best way to avoid being exposed to the virus or exposing others is to stay home as much as possible. Leave home only for essential errands."

The new closures include:

Malls

Social and fraternal clubs, including those at golf courses

Bingo halls

Bowling alleys

Pool halls

Zoos

Arcades

Amusement parks

Libraries

Skating rinks and skate parks

Outdoor/indoor playgrounds and children's play centers

Race tracks and speedway

Tobacco and vaping stores

Toy, music, gaming, instrument, movie and adult entertainment stores

Campgrounds

Political and medical leaders in Iowa have called on Reynolds to issue a shelter-in-place order. On Friday, the Iowa Board of Medicine unanimously recommended a statewide order. The Iowa Medical Society's Board of Directors has also called for such an order.

Reynolds’ administration is using a 12-point scale that weighs age, hospitalization, population and long-term care outbreaks to determine if and when a shelter-at-home order is necessary, according to documents made public last week. But she deflected a question Monday asking her to make public the specific data and sources used to develop the system.

A stay-at-home order would require Iowa to reach at least 10 points in any one of six regions in the state. A map released Monday showed the highest score was a nine.

As of Monday, Iowa has seen 25 deaths related to the virus and 946 known positive coronavirus cases.

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

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