Today, following continued inaction from Iowa GOP leaders, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Mark Smith is calling on Senator Joni Ernst to urge Governor Kim Reynolds to immediately order shelter-in-place to protect Iowa communities from further spread and loss of life from the coronavirus pandemic.
Over the weekend, Iowa experienced a 57% spike in COVID-19-related deaths and two additional outbreaks in nursing homes. Yet, Iowa GOP leaders continue to write off urgent calls from the Iowa Board of Medicine and leading medical experts – including Dr. Anthony Fauci – to use every measure at their disposal to mitigate this crisis.
“When a single case can lead to community outbreak, Iowa simply cannot withstand another moment of hesitation from Senator Ernst, Governor Reynolds, and GOP officials who fail to act,” said Mark Smith, Iowa Democratic Party Chair. “Our state needs leaders who will take decisive action to flatten the curve and protect Iowans. Senator Ernst must call on Governor Reynolds to end the half-measures and immediately order shelter-in-place – and a refusal to do so would constitute another failure by Ernst to urgently address this crisis.”