(Radio Iowa) – A federal judge has blocked enforcement of the Iowa law that bans mask mandates in schools. A group of parents of disabled Iowa students filed a lawsuit, arguing their children face a greater threat of contracting Covid and the state law on mask mandates in schools is discriminatory. Federal Judge Robert Pratt cited the recent drastic increase in Covid cases among Iowa children and he issued a temporary injunction, barring the law from being enforced, until the lawsuit is decided.

Governor Kim Reynolds says the ruling takes away parents’ ability to decide whether their children wear masks at school and the state will appeal the federal court ruling.

Last week, a judge in state court declined to issue a similar order in connection with a different lawsuit that challenges Iowa’s ban on school mask mandates. That one was filed by a Council Bluffs woman who’s the mother of two first grade boys.