Story at a glance
- The measure prevents Iowa K-12 schools, cities and counties from requiring masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Iowa has seen a significant decline in COVID-19 cases and has a positivity rate lower than 3 percent.
- The move follows similar action taken by Texas, Florida and South Carolina.
Iowa has joined a handful of Republican states in prohibiting local jurisdictions and public schools from implementing mask mandates to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-Iowa) signed a bill into law Thursday that bans K-12 schools in the state from requiring students and staff to wear face coverings.
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“The state of Iowa is putting parents back in control of their child’s education and taking greater steps to protect the rights of all Iowans to make their own health care decisions,” Reynolds said in a statement.
Iowa has seen a significant decline in COVID-19 cases and has a positivity rate lower than 3 percent. Nearly half of the state’s population has received at least one dose of a vaccine series.
The move follows similar action taken by Texas, Florida and South Carolina.
On Tuesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued an executive order banning public schools and most other government entities from requiring masks.
Public schools in Texas will be allowed to continue current mask-wearing guidelines through June 4. After that date, however, no student, teacher, parent or staff member can be required to wear a face covering on campus.
Local governments or officials in Texas who attempt to put mask requirements in place can face a fine of up to $1,000 beginning Friday. State-supported living centers, government-owned or operated hospitals and prisons and jails are exempt from the executive order.
Utah on Wednesday passed legislation banning public schools and state universities from requiring masks, which is on its way to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased its own mask recommendations, saying fully vaccinated people could stop wearing masks indoors.
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