Dubuque Times

Iowa residents have begun to debate whether they should take the necessary step to stay at home, while Gov. Kim Reynolds continues to be hesitant on making a stay-at-home order. 

Bobby Koneru, resident and public liaison for Dubuque County, and other local health care professionals said restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic are necessary. 

“We understand that there will be unintended consequences of these drastic measures, but the alternative is worse,” the health care professionals said in a letter to Dubuque officials. “If we cannot slow the rate of infection immediately, our health care system will be overwhelmed.”

Reynolds said local government officials do have the authority to issue a county stay-at-home order, but Dubuque Mayor Roy Buol said county officials are looking into options as more COVID-19 cases pop up in the county, the Telegraph Herald reported. 

“Right now, it’s not something that’s going to happen (immediately),” Buol said before a special City Council meeting. “(But) the sooner the better.”

He also said he would rather the governor issue the order than individual cities. 

“It’s much easier and avoids issues of different messages from the cities and the state,” Buol said to the Telegraph Herald. “Everyone is working toward the same goal, and that is to protect the public and give our medical folks the best possible path to success to attack this virus. Hopefully, we don’t talk past the point where it’s futile to make that declaration.”

One Dubuque resident is taking action to help the community. 

Cottingham & Butler insurance firm President and Executive Chariman Andrew Butler emailed City Council members to urge them to issue a stay-at-home order. 

“During these trying times, doing the right thing to reduce and minimize the impact of COVID-19 offers no good choices,” Butler wrote in his email. “(Ordering residents to shelter in place) can only have a positive long-term result in preserving life and minimizing infection. The federal government is working diligently to provide financial backstops for those most impacted.”

Approximately 95% of his company is already working from home until further notice, Butler told the Telegraph Herald.

But several Iowa cities have officials who said a stay-at-home order would be overkill since they are not being hit hard by the coronavirus. 

"It seems like the order from the governor has nearly everything closed," Mayor Jim Adams of Asbury told the Telegraph Herald. "There's already no place to go."

Mayor Jim Heavens of Dyersville also said a stay-at-home order wasn't necessary for his city. 

“We’re not really a hot spot here in Iowa,” Heavens told the Telegraph Herald. “Everybody in Dyersville has done everything they can do to shut the businesses down to almost none. You can pick up food at a restaurant to go. If you need to go to the bank, you can make an appointment. But we’re doing our due diligence and respecting the seriousness of this. I’m content to let that stay where it’s at.”