IOWA (IRN) – A new COVID-19 disaster proclamation has been signed by Governor Kim Reynolds in response to increases in positive cases across the state. Reynolds says the novel coronavirus is being spread greatly by 19-24-year-old young adults often in college areas. In response, the governor has closed bars, breweries, taverns, and nightclubs in six counties – Johnson, Linn, Black Hawk, Dallas, Polk, and Story. The proclamation also calls for restaurants in those six counties to stop serving alcohol at 10 p.m. This will be in effect until September 20th. Reynolds encourages all Iowans over two-years-old to wear masks in public, but she has not issued a mandate to do so. As of Thursday, Iowa’s had 1,080 COVID-19 deaths.

KEOKUK, IA (IRN) – A southeast Iowa man is charged in the death of a couple who were struck earlier this month as they waited on their motorcycle in a construction zone. Chad Ray Davis was arrested and charged in the August 4 deaths of Michael and Linda Horn, of Donnellson. The Horns were stopped on their motorcycle at a construction site east of Donnellson when a car driven by Davis hit them. Their motorcycle was pushed into the back of a Mack truck. The Horns were killed instantly.

IOWA (IRN) – Iowa can’t track the number of positive, negative or inconclusive tests performed by TestIowa, according to data received through a public records request by KCRG-TV. The data, which KCRG threatened lawsuits to receive, is the first time data from TestIowa was ever released and also shows it took 46 days to meet the state’s goal of testing 3,000 people in a single day. KCRG requested the amount of positive, negative and inconclusive tests performed by the $26 million no-bid contract testing program, but was told the state has no way of knowing if a specific test from any manufacturer is giving a disproportionate number of positives, negatives or inconclusive test results.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie has instituted a public mask mandate, effective immediately. Cownie said masks are required in businesses, including restaurants. Cownie said the mandate is necessary now and he wants to get it in place before Des Moines students are back in classrooms. The ordinance defies Gov. Kim Reynolds’ claim that cities cannot mandate face coverings. There will be no citations for now.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld called out some businesses in Iowa City for not doing their part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by adhering to state issued health and safety guidelines. In an open letter addressed to the Iowa City businesses community, Harreld wrote that he is disappointed in some businesses, blaming them for increasing COVID-19 cases in the city.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s Republican secretary of state has issued instructions that counties cannot set up drop boxes to accept early ballots for this year’s general election. That comes despite not challenging the use of those boxes in more than a third of Iowa’s counties in previous elections.