Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday suspended fees related to property taxes and halted most home evictions around the state, a series of loosened regulations aimed at helping Iowans affected by the coronavirus.

The temporary changes went into effect immediately, under a state public health emergency declaration that expires at the end of April 16.

The extraordinary measures are an extension of Reynolds' actions earlier this week to temporarily ban socializing at many businesses and recreational facilities in Iowa. They are the latest sign that COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, has upended life in Iowa and around the world.

Reynolds' Friday declaration was issued on the same day that state public health officials announced one new case of coronavirus in the state, bringing the total positive cases here to 45.

"This delay will hopefully help families, businesses struggling with cash flow issues," Reynolds said at an afternoon news conference when highlighting the move on property taxes.

Evictions paused

The order puts a hold on many evictions for renters and mobile home owners in the state under Iowa's landlord and tenant laws. It does not apply to someone without a lease or another right to live in a unit or to other "emergency situations allowed by law."

"When we're asking Iowans to stay home, this helps prevent an unnecessary level of disruption during these really challenging times that we're in," Reynolds said.

The eviction portion of the governor’s declaration expands on an Iowa Supreme Court supervisory order, issued Tuesday, which gave courts the option of rescheduling hearings for eviction cases until after May 4, or holding them by phone, at the direction of the magistrate or other judicial officer. The courts were still planning to conduct eviction proceedings where a tenant poses a “clear and present danger.”

According to Iowa Legal Aid, the state has more than 500 eviction cases currently in progress.

More:The latest on coronavirus in Iowa

The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development also issued a plan Wednesday that would stop foreclosures and evictions for 60 days on single-family homes with loans through the Federal Housing Administration. But, according to the Associated Press, that only applies to about 8 million units nationwide.

Reynolds' Friday order followed an emergency proclamation issued on Tuesday that prohibited gatherings of more than 10 people at "all locations and venues, including but not limited to parades, festivals, conventions and fundraisers." That included events considered social, such as for community, spiritual, religious, recreational, leisure and sports-related purposes.

Those orders required restaurants to end dine-in services but allow them to sell food and beverages through drive-thru, carry-out and delivery. While the earlier proclamation ordered bars to close, Reynolds' new orders will allow bars to sell unopened bottles of alcohol. Other facilities including gyms, theaters and casinos are still closed.

Reynolds' administration officials said the effects of business closures and other mitigation efforts due to coronavirus would translate to a large number of Iowans seeking unemployment claims.

“Essentially, what we’re receiving on a daily basis is what we would receive in a busy month,” said Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend.

The Friday declaration pauses other regulations as well. Among the temporary measures:

Permitting public meetings or hearings by electronic means for government work.

Suspending some regulations to ease transportation of agricultural supplies and commodities, food, medical supplies, cleaning products and other household goods on all Iowa highways.

Extending the deadline for a permit to carry and a permit to acquire a firearm and additional measures.

'Clarity' on firearms

Michael Ware, chairman of the Iowa Firearms Coalition, said the order’s provisions around firearms permits brings some clarity to a patchwork of responses from county sheriffs.

Ware said his organization has been “bombarded” with questions from Iowans about how to navigate the issue.

“Sheriffs have a great deal of control and a great deal of responsibility in their 99 respective counties,” he said. “And, unfortunately, the fact of the matter is that leaves the possibility for 99 different policies. And so to have the governor say these are prudent and wise best practices, let’s adhere to these — that helps a lot.”

Currently, Iowans must submit their permits to acquire handguns in person to their local sheriff’s office. However, some counties have closed their buildings to the public to limit the possible spread of the virus.

Reynolds’ order directs each sheriff’s office to create procedures to allow applications for permits to acquire handguns and permits to carry firearms to be dropped off on site without interaction with staff, as well as by mail and online where possible.

“It looks to me like this is a wise way to move forward,” Ware said. “This route employs social distancing and gives people an option to exercise their rights.”

Reynolds’ order also said that state permits to carry weapons will not expire while the proclamation is in effect. However, it doesn’t change federal requirements around background checks.

Iowans undergo a federal background check when they first receive their permit, and they do not have to undergo a new background check each time they purchase a firearm while their permit is valid. Iowans seeking to purchase firearms on a technically-expired Iowa permit will have to undergo a background check at the point of sale, Ware said.

No 'shelter-in-place' order, more testing

During Reynolds' news conference on Friday, the governor reiterated that she had no plans to issue what's been called a shelter-in-place order, which other states have ordered to further keep citizens at home. Those orders essentially ban non-essential travel.

Reynolds also said she's working to increase the state's capacity to test Iowans for coronavirus.

Reynolds said the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa, the state's primary testing location, is scheduling shifts to span 24 hours a day to conduct testing. Reynolds said as of Friday, the lab had materials to test 620 people.

National laboratories are also collecting specimens from health care providers to conduct testing in the state.

While public health officials previously said the state department would not collect information about negative coronavirus tests conducted through private labs, Reynolds shifted gears on Friday. She said the state public health department would share information on both public and private testing, not just positive results.

"That's really important so that we're able to track Iowa's results, regardless of where the tests are being done," said Reynolds.

Iowans have complained this week that they're having difficulty getting tested for the virus because their symptoms don't meet strict federal criteria.

Reynolds and state public health officials have said that not every Iowan may need testing for coronavirus. Reynolds has acknowledged in recent days that tests and medical protective equipment are in limited supply.

"Testing is most important for those at highest risk of serious illness from COVID-19, and those who are on the frontlines of protecting Iowans from it," she said.

Barbara Rodriguez covers health care and politics for the Register. She can be reached by email at bcrodriguez@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8011. Follow her on Twitter @bcrodriguez.

Your subscription makes work like this possible. Sign up at DesMoinesRegister.com/Deal.