Gov. Kim Reynolds expanded the state's public health emergency proclamation amid the deepening coronavirus pandemic, halting "non-essential" surgical and dental procedures and expanding the length and breadth of the state's business closures.

The announcement on Thursday came hours after the state reported 34 new positive COVID-19 cases in Iowa, the largest single-day increase to date. Iowa's total as of Thursday was 179, according to the Iowa Department of Health. The state reported 397 additional negative test results, for a total of 2,975.

"These actions will help us preserve the personal protective equipment as well as our health care workforce," the governor said at a Thursday afternoon news conference.

►More: Iowa City mayor says he's prepared to issue shelter-in-place order if Gov. Kim Reynolds won't

Reynolds' order extended for another week the existing closure of businesses and recreational facilities including movie theaters, bars, casinos, restaurant dining rooms and gyms. They must now remain closed through April 7.

Thursday's expanded order includes these additional items:

The closure of more retail establishments including, bookstores; clothing and shoe stores; jewelry stores; luggage stores; cosmetic, perfume and beauty supply stores; furniture stores; florists; and home furnishing stores. All will close through April 7.

The delay of all nonessential and elective surgeries that can be postponed without "undue risks to the current or future health of a patient." That delay begins at 5 p.m. Friday and extends through the end of the disaster declaration on April 16.

The suspension of all elective dental procedures including hygienic, orthodontic or cosmetic procedures through April 16. Emergency procedures are still allowed.

A requirement for health insurance companies to reimburse health care providers for telehealth visits at the same rate as in-person visits. Reynolds hopes that encourages patients to use telehealth more to screen and treat the virus.

A requirement that health care facilities, including nursing homes, screen all staff at the beginning of their shifts for COVID-19 symptoms, such as a fever or shortness of breath.

The governor's earlier recommendation that schools close until April 13 remains in place.

► More:The latest on the coronavirus outbreak in Iowa

The expansion comes as Reynolds faces calls from mayors in Iowa City and Des Moines to issue a shelter-in-place order that would limit residents from leaving their homes except out of necessity.

"These additional steps, along with those we've already taken, are equivalent to the goals of many of the shelter-in-place orders" in other states, Reynolds said Thursday. "... The more, as I keep saying, we do now to mitigate the spread of the virus, the sooner we'll get through this so that life and business can get back to normal."

Brick-and-mortar stores look to other means

Before Reynolds' Thursday order, many stores in Iowa had already closed, and local malls had shortened their hours.

Following the Thursday order, the Outlets of Des Moines in Altoona announced it would close temporarily through April 7. Chains like Burlington Coat Factory, Kohl’s, T.J. Maxx and Tuesday Morning had closed preemptively, as had Raygun, the popular Des Moines-based T-shirt and novelties store.

Beaverdale Books, an independent bookseller in Des Moines, also closed to the public earlier this week. Instead of browsing in person, customers could call or email to request a specific book. Employees would find it on the shelves and pack it up for delivery or curbside pickup, as many local restaurants have done since their dining rooms were shut down March 17.

Manager Hunter Gillum wasn’t sure whether Reynolds’ Thursday order to close bookstores would affect the delivery program. If the order stops all operations, the store’s only revenue stream would be through audiobook sales on Libro.fm.

“I mean, hopefully we’re able to keep doing something,” Gillum said. “Even if it just goes to having to mail things out.”

Over at Zzz Records, which bills itself as Des Moines’ oldest independent record seller, owner Nate Niceswanger said he wasn’t sure if record stores were part of Thursday's list of closures. But he said he has sketched out a plan to sell more of his records online, a sector that previously had made up “maybe 1%” of his entire sales, he said.

Niceswanger expressed optimism that his store would make it through any closure, though he acknowledged the uncertainty due to the pandemic.

“There’s going to be a lot of businesses that do not survive this,” Niceswanger said. “I don’t know if we’re going to get a proverbial all clear, but when things do get better, it will be interesting to see who’s still around.”

Restaurants face another week of dining room closure

As Iowa's restaurants prepare for another week without dining room service, Stacy Kluesner, vice president of the Iowa Restaurant Association, said that could spell the end for some.

“They understand the importance of it for public health in the state of Iowa,” Kluesner said. “But losing that additional week and an opportunity to get back on their feet might change the long-term picture for a number of operators across the state.”

The longer restaurants are closed, the more they may struggle to reopen when public health guidelines are loosened, she said. A survey by the restaurant association found that revenue from bars and restaurants was down 84% compared to March 2019. Of the 670 operators surveyed, 82% had laid off employees.

Thursday's news conference came after Iowa reported a record number of unemployment claims from the past week, following the national trend.

According to figures released by the U.S. Department of Labor Thursday, 41,890 Iowans filed for unemployment last week. That figure is up from 2,489 people the week before.

Reynolds said the numbers are "unprecedented, but not unexpected." She said the state is working to assist business owners, and that the closures will eventually come to an end.

"This is not a typical economic downturn," Reynolds said. "And I believe that once COVID-19 is under control, that Iowa will make a strong comeback and again be recognized as a national employment leader."

Register reporters Katie Akin and Cody Goodwin contributed to this report.

Ian Richardson covers the Iowa Statehouse for the Register. Reach him at irichardson@registermedia.com or 515-284-8254. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Subscribe today at DesMoinesRegister.com/Deal.