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#CovidKim: Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds scraps state’s coronavirus restrictions, ‘Guess she has Super Bowl party’

'President Biden @POTUS can you over ride #CovidKim's dangerous decision to lift Covid restrictions?' one person asked on Twitter

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is facing a huge backlash on the internet after she signed a new public health disaster proclamation on Friday, February 5, which will relax several of the state's existing coronavirus restrictions. The announcement that eliminates the use of masks, gathering limits, and restrictions on businesses, resulted in a new trend on Twitter #CovidKim.

The office of the governor of Iowa stated that “Reynolds signed a new Public Health Disaster proclamation that relaxes existing public health measures effective Sunday, February 7th, 2021 while continuing critical regulatory relief to those on the frontlines of COVID19 recovery for an additional 30 days. The proclamation strongly encourages Iowans, businesses, and organizations to take reasonable public health measures consistent with guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health. The proclamation is also modified to reflect changes due to the passage of Senate File 160 and extends the waiver on transportation restrictions for overweight loads.”

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This comes amid the health experts around the world have been warning people about the new coronavirus variants. People have been asked to keep a safe distance and wear face coverings. Also, recently, Iowa's Department of Public Health confirmed three new cases of COVID-19, caused by the UK variant, which is more transmissible than the earlier one. Though vaccination has come like a ray of sunshine, a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that Iowa has the third-worst vaccination rate per capita in the country.

After the news of the new public health proclamation broke out, several people took to Twitter to express their concern. They also slammed Reynolds for her decision. One user asked, “#CovidKim President Biden @POTUS can you over ride #CovidKim's dangerous decision to lift Covid restrictions?” Another user tweeted, “@GovPritzker can you please close all inbound traffic from Iowa into IL starting Sunday please? Kim Reynolds shouldn't be allowed to kill us, just because she doesn't give a shit about #Iowa #CovidKim.” The third user said, “I have not left my house except online grocery pickup orders since Mar 12. My daughter is right across the river in IL. I have not seen her since Feb 22. I am so irate at #CovidKim.”

“We can't get a vaccination, our cases are rising so brilliant #CovidKim takes off all restrictions. I'm guessing she has a Super Bowl party to go to. SMH,” a fourth user noted. A fifth one said, “Teachers in Iowa haven't been able to get the vaccine. But #CovidKim is forcing them to go back to the classroom with no covid protections in place. If my daughter was a fetus #CovidKim would care. But my daughter is a teacher and a mother, and she will be in mortal danger.”

A sixth user remarked, “Wonder what my workplace is going to do now that ALL Covid restrictions are gone in Iowa? I work at a restaurant. All our staff are already in danger bc there's no masks while eating...if they can now fill the bar and never wear masks...I'm legit scared. It's not fair #CovidKim.” While the seventh one added, “Now is NOT the time to drop all COVID-19 measures @IAGovernor. What percentage of Iowa residents have been vaccinated? Not nearly enough. My 82-year-old father & my sister with stage 4 cancer haven't been vaccinated yet. Premature is an understatement. #CovidKim strikes again.”