Governor Kim Reynolds says she will partially reopen businesses and churches in 77 of Iowa's 99 counties, even as the state suffers from fast-growing numbers of coronavirus cases and deaths.
Herb Trix reports Scott County is not one of those 77 counties.
Ed Rivers, Director of the health department, says Scott County didn't meet the criteria.
The number of comfirmed COVID-19 cases has increased, and it's more like Johnson and Linn counties than rural counties which have much lower numbers.
Beginning in those 77 counties on May 1st, Reynolds said restaurants, fitness centers, retail stores, and malls will be allowed to reopen at 50% of their operating capacity.
She also said she'd also allow church services to resume without limits on their size.
Reynolds said the 77 counties have experienced a downward trend in virus activity over the last two weeks.
The governor extended the previously-ordered business closures in 22 other counties through May 15th. Those 22 counties include Scott, Muscatine, and Dubuque.
