Governor Reynolds spokesman issues new statement on Iowa's ban on mask mandates in schools

DES MOINES, Iowa — On Thursday, Iowa's News Now contacted the Office of Governor Kim Reynolds to find out her current stance on the state's law banning school districts from requiring face masks in K-12 schools.

This comes as some Democrats and parents across the state are calling for the law to change, to allow districts to make their own decisions on COVID-19 precautions for students and staff.

Iowa's News Now received a statement from the governor's spokesman Pat Garrett:

In Iowa, our schools have been open safely and responsibly since August of last year. We now have the vaccine for adults and children over 12, with 65.4% of the eligible population in our state receiving at least one dose. These vaccines are the best tool to protect against Covid-19, and we encourage every eligible person to get one.

Wearing masks is also a mitigation strategy that parents and students have the option to use. But long-term mask use can come with its own cost. Experts have raised concerns about the potential negative impact to students’ social, behavioral, and speech development. And they’ve noted that cloth face masks can become vectors for pathogens when they’re not used and washed properly. Ultimately, parents know the health of their children best - which is why the Governor supports parental choice over mandates.

-Pat Garrett, spokesman for the governor’s office

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