Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered a stop Thursday to nearly all social activity outside homes in northeast Iowa due to increased COVID-19 cases. Reynolds confirmed during her daily COVID-19 news conference that RMCC Region Six, which includes Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Grundy, Howard, Jones, Linn and Winneshiek counties, has a 10 rating for the virus.Beginning late Thursday, more than 600,000 Iowans in the region will face tighter restrictions to help stop the spread of novel coronavirus.“Effective at 11:59 tonight, in all Region Six counties, all gatherings for social, community, recreational or leisure and sporting activities will cease through April 30,” Reynolds said. “You may gather only with members of your immediate household.” Reynolds stopped short of calling the measure a shelter-in-place order but is remains the tightest COVID-19 restriction yet in Iowa. Exceptions to the measure includes weddings, funerals and other spiritual or religious gatherings with no more than 10 people. The governor said she hopes her actions damp down the virus and help Iowa make a faster recovery. “So, as we are dialing down a little bit today in Region 6, we are also looking for opportunities and a criteria and metrics that will allow us, when we can do it responsibly, to start dialing things back up as well,” Reynolds said. Region One and Nine on the COVID-19 map each have a nine rating. Region One includes Des Moines.Reynolds said region ratings can change anytime.

Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered a stop Thursday to nearly all social activity outside homes in northeast Iowa due to increased COVID-19 cases.

Reynolds confirmed during her daily COVID-19 news conference that RMCC Region Six, which includes Allamakee, Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Grundy, Howard, Jones, Linn and Winneshiek counties, has a 10 rating for the virus.


Beginning late Thursday, more than 600,000 Iowans in the region will face tighter restrictions to help stop the spread of novel coronavirus.

“Effective at 11:59 tonight, in all Region Six counties, all gatherings for social, community, recreational or leisure and sporting activities will cease through April 30,” Reynolds said. “You may gather only with members of your immediate household.”

Reynolds stopped short of calling the measure a shelter-in-place order but is remains the tightest COVID-19 restriction yet in Iowa.

Exceptions to the measure includes weddings, funerals and other spiritual or religious gatherings with no more than 10 people.

The governor said she hopes her actions damp down the virus and help Iowa make a faster recovery.

“So, as we are dialing down a little bit today in Region 6, we are also looking for opportunities and a criteria and metrics that will allow us, when we can do it responsibly, to start dialing things back up as well,” Reynolds said.

Region One and Nine on the COVID-19 map each have a nine rating. Region One includes Des Moines.

Reynolds said region ratings can change anytime.