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Friends, 

Over the past few weeks, in Iowa and across our country, the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has forced us all to rethink how we as responsible citizens and community members should interact with the people around us.

In the past week, Iowa has seen its first cases of 'community spread' transmission of COVID-19, and our state public health officials have taken steps to encourage everyone to follow guidelines that will minimize the risk that this disease poses to our families and communities.

As a public official, I've made sure to use my voice to amplify that guidance, and share the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), and other local health and safety officials.

Read on to find this updated information, or find it by visiting my website's resource page, coronavirus.gov, or IDPH's website.

Doing Your Part to 'Slow the Spread'

This week, President Trump and the CDC announced new public health guidance for all Americans in order to slow the community spread of COVID-19. Starting this week, and for the next 15 days, they encourage everyone to:

• Stay home if you feel sick, and call your medical provider
• Work or engage in schooling from home whenever possible
• Avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people
• Postpone discretionary travel, both domestic and foreign
• Avoid eating or drinking at restaurants, and instead use drive-thru or delivery options

On Tuesday, the State of Iowa followed these recommendations and announced that restaurants, bars, and other recreational services in Iowa needed to close, except for take-out and delivery options. This closure does not apply to grocery stores.

The CDC is also reminding everyone to practice good hygiene by washing your hands, cleaning frequently used items or surfaces, avoiding touching your face, and covering your coughs and sneezes.

Know the Symptoms of COVID-19 and What to Do If You Are Sick

Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

According to the CDC, the following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice.

If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have it, follow the steps below to help protect other people in your home and community.

• Stay home except to get medical care
• Call ahead before visiting your doctor, to limit exposure to others
• Call 2-1-1 if you have other questions not related to getting you or a family member the care they need

Should I Go Out in Public?

This week, Iowa declared a state of public health emergency - which closes many recreational and food service facilities across Iowa. It also instructs everyone to cancel or postpone any public gatherings of more than 10 people.

Even if you are not feeling sick, I encourage you to follow these guidelines to practice 'social distancing' and limit exposure to others whenever possible.

If you are going to the grocery store, Iowa state officials and I are recommending that you should only buy supplies for what you need for a week at a time. Buying months worth of supplies and clearing out shelves will put your neighbors at greater risk by forcing Iowans to spend more time in stores searching for essentials. Iowans should only buy what they need and respect our public health officials recommendations to reduce risk in our communities.

What about Iowa Schools?

As you may already know, Governor Reynolds recommended this week that all Iowa schools close for four weeks to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Some Iowa school districts have already announced that they will be closing, and if you have questions that relate to your district's policy I encourage you to contact them directly.

I know that school closures can put a lot of pressure on Iowa parents, including those who may need to stay home to take care of their children. We need to make sure we are expanding access to child care, getting our parents access to paid family leave, and ensure that access to critical nutrition programs aren't interrupted.

What is Congress Doing?

Last week, I joined my colleagues in the House to pass bipartisan legislation to address the outbreak’s impact on Iowa families, their health, and their financial stability. The bill, which is currently being considered in the Senate, establishes an emergency paid leave program, reinforces nutrition programs, and ensures all testing for COVID-19 will be cost-free.

Earlier this month, we also voted to pass legislation that provided $8.3 billion to reinforce federal, state, and local efforts to combat COVID-19 across the United States. We've already seen millions of dollars from that legislation coming back to Iowa to help our public health officials limit this outbreak.

I will continue to work to get solutions that work for Iowans enacted into law and hold government accountable for the services they're providing to help our state deal with the impacts of this outbreak.

Thank you, 

Cindy