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Iowa to lift some coronavirus business restrictions on May 1

Des Moines, Iowa. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) announced Monday that she will lift some coronavirus restrictions on businesses in 77 of the state's 99 counties on May 1, allowing them to reopen with limited capacity, the Des Moines Register reports.

The big picture: Counties that are permitted to partially reopen must either have no coronavirus activity or have seen a decrease in positive cases over the past 14 days, in line with federal guidelines published by the White House.

What she's saying: Reynolds said the state is shifting from an "aggressive mitigation strategy" to a targeted containment effort in order to jump-start its economy.

  • "Instead we must learn to live with COVID virus activity without letting it govern our lives," Reynolds said in a press conference Monday.

Details: Restaurants, fitness centers and retail stores in those counties will be able to operate at 50% of normal capacity.

  • Malls can open at 50% capacity, but they must keep play areas and other common seating areas closed.
  • Social, community, recreational and leisure sporting events can open with limits of 10 people.
  • Spiritual and religious gatherings that adhere to social distancing guidelines can also reopen.

By the numbers: Iowa has so far reported 5,873 cases and 127 deaths from the virus. At least 36,090 tests have been conducted, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Go deeper

Marisa Fernandez, Maria Arias
Updated Dec 8, 2020 - Health

The states where face coverings are mandatory

Data: Compiled by Axios; Map: Danielle Alberti/Axios

Wyoming on Monday became the latest state to implement a mask mandate to fight COVID-19, amid a steep spike in cases across the country.

The big picture: States are reintroducing mitigation efforts like closing businesses and advising people to stay home as the U.S. averages the most daily cases of any point in the pandemic.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Axios
Updated Oct 7, 2020 - Health

World coronavirus updates

Expand chart
Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Axios Visuals

New Zealand now has active no coronavirus cases in the community after the final six people linked to the Auckland cluster recovered, the country's Health Ministry confirmed in an email Wednesday.

The big picture: The country's second outbreak won't officially be declared closed until there have been "no new cases for two incubation periods," the ministry said. Auckland will join the rest of NZ in enjoying no domestic restrictions from late Wednesday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, declaring that NZ had "beat the virus again."

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Marisa Fernandez
Aug 4, 2020 - Health

Poll: 59% of Americans support nationwide 2-week stay-at-home order

People lay out on the grass while maintaining social distancing guidelines in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Images

Over half of Americans surveyed in a new NPR/Ipsos poll support a mandatory, nationwide order to shelter at home for two weeks to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Why it matters: COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations are rising across the U.S., which saw dramatic surges in new infections this summer. More than 155,000 Americans have died, per Johns Hopkins.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow