Iowa added 78 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday and Governor Kim Reynolds announced additional closures to start at 8 a.m. Tuesday (4/7). In addition to businesses and schools being closed through April 30th, Reynolds added malls, tobacco or vaping stores, toy stores, movie stores, music stores, adult entertainment stores, social and fraternal clubs including those at golf courses, bingo halls, bowling alleys, amusement parks, arcades, museums, libraries, aquariums, zoos, race tracks, skating rinks, skate parks, outdoor or indoor playgrounds, and campgrounds. Also, all unsolicited door-to-door sales are prohibited during this time.

Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen encourages people to continue to practice social distancing while still getting some activity, “You really want to make sure you’re limiting your contact. Just because you’re staying home doesn’t mean you should have friends over to your home or playdates with the kids. But it also doesn’t mean that you can’t go outside. There are lots of projects going on in the community, I know lots of people have been doing the hearts project and the bear hunts, as well as sidewalk chalk. The other day my kids and I went outside and flew kites because it was really windy.”

As of Monday, Washington County has 52 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus and four deaths. Johnson County has 118 cases, Iowa County has six, Henry County has nine, Louisa County has seven, Jefferson County has three, and Keokuk County has two cases of COVID-19. People are urged to stay home as much as possible, work remotely, wash hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds, sanitize frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs and phones, and stay home when you’re ill.