Restaurants, fitness centers, malls, and certain other retail establishments may reopen tomorrow in 77 Iowa counties including Guthrie, as per Governor Kim Reynolds’ proclamation this week, which leaves it to businesses to decide how soon they’ll revert back to normal practices while following the state’s orders.

All of the entities that are allowed to reopen can only have 50 percent of its normal operating capacity present at a time. There are four other requirements for restaurants, such as limiting table sizes to no more than six people, providing a six-feet minimum distance between tables, and disallowing customer self service of food and beverages, including buffets and salad bars. The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals and the Iowa Department of Public Health have released a list of 23 additional guidelines they strongly recommend, which include that to the extent possible, on-premises dining should be by reservation only and customers should be screened for COVID-19 symptoms.

Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf shares what he has heard from local establishments regarding the Governor’s latest proclamation, “We have several of our businesses that have already contacted us in the last two days and several of our restaurants that have said they are not going to open for indoor service. They are going to continue their carry out and delivery-type service because they don’t want to take the chance that they would possibly have someone come in and spread it to their employees or spread it to their other patrons.”

Kempf reminds the public that while the Governor is working to gradually “reopen” the state, now is not the time to let our guards down in trying to stem the spread of COVID-19. Links to guidance on businesses reopening can be found at adairguthriecountycovid.org.