Iowans are encouraged to wear a cloth face covering in public as Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) launch the Step Up Mask Up Iowa campaign. As of Friday, Iowa has had 820 deaths, 41,000 confirmed cases and 29,166 of those have recovered for a recovery rate of 71%. Reynolds is asking Iowans to step up against COVID-19, “COVID-19 is far from over, and I don’t want to go backwards. I don’t want to reverse the progress that we’ve made since the pandemic began. And that’s why I’m again asking for your help. I believe in Iowans and I know that we can continue to step up and take personal responsibility, not because it’s mandated but because it’s the right thing to do, whether it’s wearing a mask, social distancing, practicing good hygiene, or staying home when we’re sick. These simple steps continue to be the best defense against the virus. So, let’s step up Iowa! Protecting yourself means that you’re protecting your friends, your family members, your co-workers, and your fellow Iowans.”

According to the IDPH, maintaining a six-foot social distance from others and wearing cloth face coverings can slow the spread of COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control explains COVID-19 is spread mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets that are produced when an infected person talks, coughs, sneezes, shouts, or sings. Those droplets can then be inhaled by people who are nearby. A face covering helps to prevent those droplets from reaching other people.

IDPH states recent studies have indicated that some people with COVID-19 don’t have symptoms, and even those who later develop symptoms, can pass the virus to others before showing symptoms. Iowans are still encouraged to continue to stay home as much as possible except for essential activities and avoid groups larger than 10 people. Continue to wash hands frequently and stay home if you are ill.