Pixabay
Pixabay
Many residents in Linn County aren’t practicing social distancing, in which Cedar Rapids Mayor Brad Hart says can’t be corrected without a shelter-in-place order.
While Gov. Kim Reynolds has refrained from issuing a shelter-in-place order for Iowa, Hart has considered issuing an order on a local level but has learned that it wouldn’t be enforceable.
“I spoke directly with the governor who confirmed her opinion, which is supported by the Iowa Attorney General, that cities and counties in Iowa do not have the authority to close businesses or order people to stay in their homes,” Hart told The Gazette. “In fairness, the governor believes the actions she’s taken are, in many ways, equivalent to a shelter-in-place order.”
Hart told CBS 2 Iowa all he can now do is continue to encourage individuals to maintain a distance of at least six feet from one another and discourage them from gathering in large groups.
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