Governor Kim Reynolds extended closures in Iowa through April 30th due to COVID-19. The extensions were announced Thursday afternoon and are applied to current businesses and schools that are closed. Reynolds said that school districts should continue to find ways to serve students but that decisions should be made at the local level by each district.

Washington County Public Health Director Danielle Pettit-Majewski is urging people to practice social distancing, “Social distancing is a public health practice that is really in plain terms is just staying away from other people. So, limiting your exposure by staying home as much as you can. Limiting the size of your groups, so if you do need groceries or your family needs supplies you send one person strategically, you know maybe once a week or maybe once every 10 days. Try to plan out your trips that way.”

She explained social distancing can help slow and prevent the spread of the virus. When you do have to go out in public to get groceries or go for a walk, try to stay at least six feet away from other people. Pettit-Majewski says the practice is necessary to slow the spread, “The reason why this is so important is because this virus is spread through our sneezes, through our coughs, through the fluids that we spew when we talk and we laugh, and that close contact is how we can infect another person. And so, the virus doesn’t move, we move it. Which is why we need to ensure that we are keeping our distance from other people, why we are staying in our homes as much as we can, and why we try to avoid crowded places.”

The Iowa Department of Public Health is still encouraging people to wash their hands frequently for 20 seconds, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home when ill. As of Thursday, Iowa had 614 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 11 deaths. Of the 614 cases, 34 were in Washington County, 76 were in Johnson County, Iowa and Henry Counties each have five, Keokuk County has one, and Louisa County had its first confirmed case on Thursday.