With Governor Kim Reynolds recently relaxing the social distancing requirements in her public health emergency proclamation, Iowa State Senator for District 10 Jake Chapman is behind the change. 

Chapman says he feels all along Iowans were able to make a choice whether or not they wanted to wear a mask and follow other social distancing guidelines such as being six-feet apart and washing hands.

“I don’t think it’s the responsibility of government to frankly tell restaurants that you’re not going to be able to provide dinner this evening.”

Chapman says he feels it was good timing for the governor to lessen those requirements and that there was some conversation among colleagues that it was a good decision at the time it was made. 

“We see COVID rates going down in our state, we see vaccines going up. We also see a number of people who have had COVID who have recovered from COVID.”

Chapman says he is hopeful that Iowa is on the downhill slope of the coronavirus pandemic.