A recent increase in positive COVID-19 cases in young adults prompted Governor Kim Reynolds to issue a new emergency public health proclamation in several counties, including Dallas.

The other counties included in the proclamation – Black Hawk, Johnson, Linn, Polk, and Story – all contain four-year colleges and universities. Governor Reynolds tells Raccoon Valley Radio Dallas County was included due to its proximity to Polk County, which has over 13,000 positive cases.

Reynolds says the decision to close down bars and nightclubs stems from the number of young adults who have tested positive, “We know through the case investigation, or contact tracing, the majority of positive cases are among 18-24-year-olds and we’re able to tell where they’re going and the congregate setting they’re in and it’s the bars. Most of them are asymptomatic, but there are so many, it’s really moving into the community. The reason we had to just finally take action is we’re seeing it impact the healthcare workforce and I can’t take a chance on having our hospitals not be able to take not only COVID patients but other patients as well.”

According to the state coronavirus dashboard as of Monday, 49% of Iowa’s positive cases are of adults between 18-40 years old. The proclamation states all bars, breweries, taverns, and nightclubs in the named counties must be closed and restaurants must stop serving alcohol after 10 p.m. until September 20th.