One of the stranger elements of yesterday’s proclamation signed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is the portion that orders restaurants and bars to close by 10 p.m. The press release says:
“Restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, arcades, pool halls, bingo halls, and indoor playgrounds are required to close at 10 p.m.”
Now, if you read the actual proclamation, it states that those establishments may continue to serve food or beverages if the food or beverages are promptly taken from the premises, such as on a carry-out or drive through basis. Or if the food or beverage is delivered to customers off the premises.
Let’s look at what this portion of the proclamation does — it orders private businesses what time they must stop operating their business.
That. Is. Insane.
Perhaps I’ve missed the numbers COVID studies showing that it is safe to be in a restaurant, bar, bowling alley, etc. at 9:59 p.m. But, but, at 10:01 p.m. it is pure pandemonium. It’s Coronavirus anarchy. All bets are off. Nobody is safe.
To quote Antoine Dodson, hide your kids, hide your wives, hide your husbands.
Does this mean someone who enters the restaurant at 9:45 p.m. cannot finish their meal, say, at 10:10 p.m.?
I’ll say this again, and I’ll keep saying — we are eight months into 15 days to flatten the curve. It started in mid-March. It is now mid-November.
And the government is telling private business owners what time they can operate during and when they must be closed by.
That is not right. And if it truly is a power granted to the Governor, then the legislature needs to address it immediately.
