Gov. Reynolds Did Not Consult State Health Department Before Lifting Covid Restrictions, Iowa Democrats Say

DES MOINES — Gov. Kim Reynolds did not consult her own public health department before lifting Iowa’s remaining COVID-19 mitigation strategies, including its partial face mask mandate, the agency’s director told Democratic lawmakers Monday.During a weekly briefing on the state’s pandemic response, Democratic lawmakers asked Iowa Department of Public Health Director Kelly Garcia whether Reynolds consulted the agency before the governor on Friday lifted the state’s remaining pandemic mitigation strategies.Garcia told the legislators the department was not consulted on the decision — that the governor made that decision on her own, the Democrats said.Dr.