Iowa City and Coralville lift mask mandates

IOWA CITY — The mayors of Iowa City and Coralville lifted mask mandates in their communities on Tuesday.

“I am grateful for the vaccine and the patience and precautions that our community demonstrated during the challenges we endured over the last year,” Coralville Mayor John Lundell said in a statement announcing the end of the mask mandate.

“I look forward to resuming activities with friends and family and encourage others to continue to be responsible and become vaccinated so our progress against COVID-19 continues.”

While the mandates have been lifted, the city leaders said those not vaccinated against COVID-19 should continue to wear masks and social distance in public.

“Those who feel they should continue wearing masks are urged to keep doing so,” a news release from the city of Iowa City reads. “Residents should respect the policies of businesses, hospitals and medical facilities and events that may require mask-wearing.”

The mandates had required that people wear face coverings over the nose in mouth while in a public place when 6 feet of social distancing was not possible.

The end of the mandates come after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced last week that fully vaccinated people can resume normal activities in public without a mask or social distancing.

Masks still are required on public transportation.

About 50 percent of Johnson County residents are now fully vaccinated.

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