Mayor Hart Assures Public Waterloo Mask Mandate Still in Effect

Waterloo, Iowa Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021 – Mayor Quentin Hart today confirms the Waterloo mask mandate will remain in place as a safeguard against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, despite a lifting of Iowa’s face covering requirement by Governor Kim Reynolds earlier this week. 

RESOLUTION ADOPTING A FACE MASK MANDATE FOR THE CITY OF WATERLOO was passed and adopted by the Waterloo City Council on August 17, 2020 requiring face coverings be worn in public.

Section 1 of the mandate states, “Every person in the City of Waterloo must wear a face covering when:

  1. In public as opposed to one’s place of residence, when one cannot stay six (6) feet apart from others.
  2. Inside any indoor public settings, including but not limited to:
    1. Grocery stores
    2. Pharmacies
    3. Hardware stores
    4. Retail stores
    5. Other public settings that are not one’s place of residence and when among people who do not live in the same household.
    6. City buildings
  3. Outside if maintaining six (6) feet apart is not possible
  4. Using public transportation or private car services (including taxis, ride share, or carpooling)

On Monday, February 1st, 2021 the Waterloo City Council extended the mandate with an end date TBD when Mayor Hart and the Black Hawk County Health Department officials have determined it is prudent to end the mask mandate.

The city council decided it would be more efficient to have a mask mandate in effect until it is no longer needed.  They determined that the Mayor and Health Department should work together to determine when it is appropriate to lift the indefinite mask mandate.

“We have and will remain consistent in our approach to protecting our residents and city staff. Our goal is to slow the spread of Covid-19 based on local data and the advisement of healthcare professionals,” says Mayor Hart.

Hart assures the public that decisions are made based on local conditions and risk factors.  His statement follows consultation with the Black Hawk County Public Health and a joint recommendation from MercyOne, Peoples Community Health Clinic, UnityPoint Health on February 10, 2021. 

“While we may be seeing a slight drop in transmission across the County, this only confirms we are doing the right thing,” states Hart. “With new, more aggressive strains now in the area it is critical we stay the course and continue to wear masks, social distance, avoid gathering, and wash our hands often. Consistency, courtesy, and cooperation in policy and practice will help bring an end to this pandemic and reduce exposure for everyone.”

Waterloo residents are encouraged to visit www.CityofWaterlooIowa.com/Covid-19 for the most to date information from the City.