This is rundown of the latest amended health proclamation by Governor Reynolds, effective Thursday, Dec. 10 at 12:01 a.m. through Wednesday, Dec. 16at 11:59 p.m…..

Mask Use: Indoor spaces open to the public & State executive branch buildings

•No change

Gathering Restrictions:Social, community, business, or leisure gatherings

•No more than 15 people indoors and 30 people outdoors

•These restrictions apply to wedding receptions, conventions, fundraisers, and other nonessential gatherings but do not apply to gatherings that occur during the ordinary course of business or government.

Sporting and Recreational Events:

•Only two spectators permitted for each youth or adult athlete, cheerleader, pep band member, or organizer staff, and must wear a mask and maintain 6 feet distance from other spectators

•Youth and adult participants can be closer than 6 feet and are not required to wear masks

High School Sports & Extracurriculars: Sporting, recreational, and extracurricular events

•Only two spectators permitted for each high school athlete, performer, competitor, cheerleader, pep band member,or staff member,and must wear a mask and maintain 6 feet distance from other spectators

•Students participating can be closer than 6-feet and are not required to wear masks.

Restaurants and Bars: Restaurant or bar, including a wedding reception venue, winery, brewery, distillery, country club, or other social or fraternal club

•Last call for in-person services at 10:00pm (includes all venues serving alcohol)

•May open at 4:00am

•No bar seating

•Masks required when not seated (while playing games, dancing, etc.)

•Six feet distancing between groups•Groups limited to 8 people unless larger group is all same household

•Seated when eating or drinking and limit congregating

Fitness Centers: Fitness centers, health clubs, health spas, gyms

•Group fitness activities are allowed if a 6-foot distance is maintained

Casinos & Gaming Facilities:

•Last call for in-person food or beverage services at 10:00pm

•Masks required except when seated to eat or drink.

Closer/Prolonged Contact Establishments: Bowling alleys, pool halls, bingo halls, arcades, indoor playgrounds, children’s play centers

•Last call for in-person food or beverage services at 10:00pm

•Mask required when not seated to eat or drink

•Ensure that groups and individuals are six feet apart at establishment

•Groups limited to eight people unless larger group is all same household

Nonessential/elective surgeries: A hospital must reduce its in-patient nonessential surgeries to a level to ensure it is use at least 25% fewer beds than it did on average during September 2020.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says studies show schools are safe spaces for kids and she’s praising Iowa districts which have kept all students in class 100 percent of the time. As for Iowa schools that have shifted 100 percent online or to a hybrid system with kids in classrooms every other day, she has a message.

During a news conference late this (Wednesday) morning, Reynolds invited a parent to speak about her frustrations with Ankeny schools. Sarah bar-THOHL has a son in kindergarten and another in third grade and both kids are bouncing between virtual classes and some in-school class time.

Governor Reynolds says current state law limits her ability to change the waiver system that allows schools to shift to part-time in person or full-time online, but hinted legislators could and should change that.

The governor has extended her public health emergency proclamation that was set to expire tomorrow (Thursday) for another week. It requires face coverings in many public places and limits the number of people who may gather indoor and outdoors.

Reynolds also has clarified that 10 p.m. is to be “last call” for alcohol served in Iowa bars, restaurants AND casinos rather than a closing time of 10 p.m. The governor is also letting organized sports for kids and adults — including bowling leagues resume — but spectators are limited to two per participant.

The governor announced the state has contracted with 104 out-of-state nurses to work in Iowa hospitals through the end of the month, 80 of whom are already on the job. The state is also providing a 30-day supply of face masks, gowns and gloves to all 432 Iowa nursing homes, at no charge. The state website shows more than 57-hundred nursing home residents and staff have active Covid infections, with Covid outbreaks at 141 facilities.

Atlantic Police Lt. Devin Hogue reports the Fireside Lounge raised more than $7,000 during their recent, 9th Annual Joe Dirt Memorial fundraiser and silent auction. The funds will help to support the Atlantic Police Department’s Christmas and various Cass County youth and family programs.

Photo courtesy Lt. Devin Hogue, Atlantic P-D

Hogue says “2020 put them (The Baier family) in an odd predicament for their normal fundraising, and left them without the ability to hold their annual pool tournament. They march[ed] forward anyway and reached out to many great businesses, individuals, and groups in Cass County, asking them to help make help their event a success.

“Despite the lackluster year that 2020 has been, they were still able to raise $7,013.04 as well as a large box of new toys, that will go towards our community programs,” Hogue said.  The Atlantic Police Department thanks the Baier family and their whole crew, who put forth so much time and effort to make this a successful event each year!

On the Joe Dirt Memorial Faceook page, the Baier’s said “With COVID19 we were worried how this year’s auction might go, especially with the pool tournament postponed. We should have known you guys would make it happen! Thank YOU for another year to our amazing community, family, and friends.”

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Wednesday (today) announced FDA approval of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine is expected by the end of this week, and regional hospitals that have been approved to carry a stockpile of the supplies have been notified of their role in immunizing persons in the highest risk categories, including Long-Term Care facility patients.  Reynolds says patients at those facilities are expected to receive their vaccinations beginning Dec. 28th. As more vaccines become available, those groups will broaden until anyone who wants to receive the vaccine can get it.

Reynolds announced the state will provide the state’s 432 long-term care facilities with personal protective equipment for 30 days at no cost to those facilities. She also announced the state is providing temporary medical workers for some facilities. Reynolds said more than 80 nurses have already started and she anticipated that a total of 104 nurses would be assigned throughout the state through Dec. 30.

Reynolds noted that in the two weeks following Thanksgiving, COVID-19 hospitalizations and case positivity rates have shown steady downward trends. Reynolds said she will extend her emergency health disaster proclamation with some changes, which was set to expire Thursday night. Reynolds said venues that serve alcohol, such as bars restaurants and casinos, will have last call for service at 10 p.m. Additionally, the governor said that due to decreasing hospitalization rates, that proclamation will ease restrictions on elective procedures for our hospitals from 50, from a 50% reduction to a 25% reduction.

“Organized sports and recreational events including bowling leagues may resume for youth and adults, but spectators are still limited to two per participant. The same two-spectator rule that also applies to high school athletes will be extended to spectators for cheerleaders, band members and others performing at high school sporting events,” she said. Reynolds added  “We will continue to monitor virus activity over the next several days, and we’ll assess whether additional changes may be possible a week from now.”

The extension of the proclamation will last through Dec. 16th.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Fire officials in northeastern Iowa say one person has died and five others were injured in a townhouse fire in Waterloo. Officials say the fire was reported early Tuesday morning, and firefighters arrived to flames coming from the home and several people trapped in and around the home. The Courier reports that six people — three adults and three children — were taken to a hospital, and one adult later died.

Officials said five of those who were injured were removed from the burning house by firefighters. Officials have not released the names of the victims or the cause of the fire.