Iowa Democratic Party Chair Mark Smith released the following statement in response to Governor Reynolds’ announcement:

“While any action from the Governor to stop the spread of the virus in our state is welcome, these guidelines are long overdue and fall far short of what Iowans need to aggressively flatten the curve and relieve the stress on our overwhelmed hospitals and frontline workers.

“More than 187,000 Iowans have gotten sick from Covid-19 and nearly 2,000 have died. From packing plants to long term care facilities to college campuses and school districts — Iowans have experienced hundreds of virus outbreaks as a result of the Governors’ refusal to put science and data before political ambitions.

“Iowans have been living through one of the most severe Covid-19 outbreaks in the country — and when we really needed leadership — Governor Reynolds put all public information on pause to campaign at events that defied public health recommendations.

“Reynolds has downplayed the virus for months, ignored CDC and White House Coronavirus Task Force guidance, and still doesn’t have a public plan to tackle the spread in our state. Iowans need real action and that starts with a Governor who will put our public health and livelihoods before partisan politics.”