Cerro Gordo Health Department urges businesses to follow governor’s directive

MASON CITY – The Health Department is urging local businesses to follow Governor Reynolds’ proclamation to combat the spread of COVID-19. The proclamation will be in place until nearly midnight on March 31^st. It is essential that we enforce the mitigation strategies of reducing gatherings to ten or fewer people, practice social distancing, stay home when we’re sick, cover our cough, and wash our hands to limit the spread of COVID-19.

“We as a community must take the emergency proclamation seriously to be effective in our response to COVID-19,” says Brian Hanft, Director of CG Public Health. “A public health disaster such as this requires significant measures to be taken by everyone to limit the spread of the virus.”

Under the Governor’s proclamation, the following must be followed:

• Drive-thru, carry out and delivery only for restaurants.
  • Drinks may not be served on the premises while patrons wait for their food.
• Gyms, bars, theaters and casinos must close.
  • Bars can only sell drinks intended for off-premises.
  • Batting cages, open gyms, and all other recreational facilities must limit the number of people to ten or less.

Those who do not follow the proclamation provided by Gov. Reynolds may be subject to enforcement implemented by local police departments. “It’s important to remember that these orders are in place to protect the public and ensure the safety of all,” says Jeff Brinkley, Chief of Mason City Police Department. “We recognize these temporary measures are not easy, but it is imperative to abide by these steps to protect the health and safety of all Iowans during this pandemic.”

A status report of monitoring and testing of COVID-19 in Iowa provided by IDPH can be found at https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus. For more information about COVID-19, please visit CG Public Health’s website at cghealth.com. Follow CG Public Health on Facebook and Twitter (@CGPublicHealth).