Iowa City, Iowa – Gov. Kim Reynolds moved last week to lift a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures and allow large gatherings to resume.

Casinos, outdoor amphitheaters, amusement parks, bowling alleys, arcades, race tracks, skating rinks and outdoor playgrounds can reopen today.

Iowa’s ban on social, community and recreational gatherings larger than 10 people also expires today. Events such as parades, festivals and conventions can resume if public health measures are implemented, including requiring participants to practice social distancing. Practices and competitions for youth sports such as baseball and softball will also be permitted.

Unlike the majority of other states, Iowa never implemented a stay-at-home order and instead banned large gatherings and closed many businesses and schools. The governor has steadily removed those restrictions even as the virus continues to spread. Bars, wineries, breweries, distilleries and social clubs recently were allowed to reopen statewide.

“For our state, recovery means striking a balance between getting life and business back to normal while continuing to manage the virus activity,” Reynolds said. “Our recovery is contingent upon our ability to protect both the lives and livelihoods of Iowans. We can’t prioritize one over the other.”

Advocates for low-income residents have warned that scores of people who have lost income during the pandemic could face eviction or foreclosure as the moratorium for nonpayment expires. The American Civil Liberties Union and several other groups had asked the governor to extend the moratorium, which she first imposed March 19.

Some landlords, however, had reported that they were struggling financially as renters stopped paying amid skyrocketing levels of unemployment.

Reynolds said the moratorium was a temporary public health measure designed to keep people in their homes during the emergency. She said that the Iowa Finance Authority would announce the details of a new federally funded program designed to prevent evictions and foreclosures. She promised that enough money would be available quickly enough to provide relief to those who need it.

“We are changing the parameters in which we are providing the assurance that people aren’t thrown out of their homes in these really difficult times,” Reynolds said.