Find the latest news and information updates from City of Iowa City, Johnson County, and other trusted sources related to coronavirus (COVID-19) on this page. 

• City of Iowa City News Updates
• Johnson County News Updates
• Community Connection (Video Series)
• Trusted Information Sources

City of Iowa City News Updates

• Mayor's face covering order extended to May 31, 2021 (1/11/2021)
• Governor extends COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration (1/8/2021)
• Iowa City continues to offer rent, mortgage, & utilities assistance to those impacted by COVID-19 (1/6/2021)
• Governor extends COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration (12/10/2020)
• Small business owners in Iowa City can now apply for COVID-19 grants (12/7/2020)
• Organizations can apply for CDBG funding to help with COVID-19 relief (12/1/2020)
• Mayor delays water rate increase (11/24/2020)
• Governor makes additional funds available for COVID-19-impacted renters and homeowners (11/20/2020)
• City impacts following Governor's latest COVID-19 order (11/17/2020)
• Governor requires masks at all indoor spaces open to the public (11/16/2020) 
• Mayor's face covering order extended to Jan. 15, 2021 (11/12/2020)
• Community Connection: Coping with Seasonal Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic (11/11/2020)
• Governor requires masks at indoor gatherings of 25 or more; continues COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration (11/10/2020)
• Iowa City Public Library modifies services (11/5/2020)
• CommUnity Crisis Services opens new Iowa City Food Bank Location (11/4/2020)
• Community Connection: Iowa City Area Business Partnership focuses on local economy during the pandemic (10/28/2020)
• Community Connection: Recommendations for Celebrating the Holidays during the Pandemic (10/21/2020)
• Governor continues Public Health Emergency Declaration due to COVID-19 (10/19/2020)
• Community Connection: School district shares successes and struggles of educating kids during the pandemic (10/14/2020)
• Iowa Announces COVID-19 Residential Utility Disruption Prevention Program (10/12/2020)
• Update: Governor's order closing bars due to COVID-19 ends (10/5/2020)
• Update: Governor extends order closing bars due to COVID-19 surge in Johnson County through Oct. 4 (9/30/2020)
• Enjoying Halloween safely this season (9/29/2020)
• Office of Equity & Human Rights issues memo on CDC's order to enact eviction moratorium through December 31, 2020 (9/25/2020)
• Video Update: Face Covering Order Extended, Trail Maps, and Council Listening Posts (9/21/2020)
• Update: Governor extends order closing bars due to COVID-19 surge in Johnson County through Sept. 27 (9/18/2020)
• Financial assistance still available to qualified households impacted by pandemic (9/18/2020)
• Community Connection: Dr. Theresa Brennan shares lessons learned six months into COVID-19 pandemic (9/17/2020)
• Mayor's face covering order extended to Nov. 13 (9/14/2020)
• Community Connection: COVID-19 Rules and Enforcement for Bars & Restaurants (9/2/2020)
• Video Update: COVID-19 Outbreak, Final Pass for Storm Debris, and Curbside Pickup at the Library (8/30/2020)
• Governor orders bars closed due to COVID-19 surge in Johnson County (8/27/2020)
• Community Connection: Center for Worker Justice helps families navigate pandemic, derecho disaster (8/26/2020)
• Video Update: Storm Recovery, Face Mask Order, and Monarch Festival (8/17/2020)
• Downtown Shuttle changes effective Monday, August 17 (8/12/2020)
• Video Update: COVID-19 Relief Funds, Public Art Program, and more (8/3/2020)
• Video Update: Face Mask Order, Online Monarch Festival, and Virtual Soul & Blues Festival (7/27/2020)
• Organizations can apply for CDBG funding to help with COVID-19 relief (7/22/2020)
• Community Connection: The Iowa City Community School District weighs options for learning during the pandemic (7/22/2020)
• Mayor issues face covering order for City of Iowa City (7/21/2020)
• Community Connection: The Iowa City Public Library aims to keep imaginations active during the pandemic (7/16/2020)
• City signs amicus in support of international students (7/13/2020)
• Community Connection: Iowa City Hospice makes adjustments to safely provide care during the pandemic (7/8/2020)
• Party in the Park events suspended indefinitely (7/6/2020)
• Video Update: COVID-19 Cases, Firework Fine, and more (6/29/2020)
• Iowa City Farmers Market will retain online format through 2020 season (6/24/2020)
• Party in the Park events suspended until further notice (6/24/2020)
• Video Update: Farmers Market opening date, Animal Center hours, and more (6/22/2020)
• Iowa City Animal Center set to reopen with limited hours due to COVID-19 (6/16/2020)
• Community Connection: Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County helps renters navigate financial hardships (6/12/2020)
• Governor removes 50% capacity rule for businesses (6/11/2020)
• Iowa City Transit returns to regular summer service schedule; resumes fare collection June 15 (6/8/2020)
• Governor announces Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Program details for those with COVID-19 related lost wages (5/29/2020)
• Governor opens playgrounds; allows sporting gatherings with restrictions (5/29/2020)
• Community Connection: Summer of the Arts finds new ways to deliver arts and cultural programming (5/28/2020)
• Annual Emergency Services Youth Summer Camp cancelled due to COVID-19 (5/28/2020)
• Governor reopens bars, breweries with restrictions (5/27/2020)
• Community Connection: Houses into Homes continues to provide services during pandemic (5/26/2020)
• City suspends 4th of July fireworks; announces updates on City pools (5/22/2020)
• Community Connection: Community Foundation of Johnson County makes an impact during pandemic (5/21/2020)
• Governor reopens movie theaters, museums, more with restrictions (5/21/2020)
• Facilities with long-term closures encouraged to flush water pipes prior to reopening (5/20/2020)
• Household hazardous materials facility re-opens Thursday, May 21 (5/19/2020)
• Community Connection: Think Iowa City helps local businesses navigate during the crisis (5/19/2020)
• City to resume normal rates and enforcement at parking decks, street meters beginning Monday, May 18, 2020 (5/15/2020)
• Community Connection: Parks and Recreation Department offers alternative programming during pandemic (5/15/2020)
• Governor reopens restaurants, salons and barbershops, more with restrictions (5/14/2020)
• Mayor signs proclamation for COVID-19, urges residents to stay vigilant (5/13/2020)
• City delays required radon testing for rental units to July 1, 2021 due to COVID-19 (5/13/2020)
• Community Connection: Iowa City Animal Center maintains services during the pandemic (5/12/2020)
• Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center announces residential reopening plan; cash is discouraged (5/11/2020)
• Community Connection: Mercy Iowa City shares COVID-19 response efforts (5/7/2020)
• Governor to reopen malls, retail businesses, fitness centers in Iowa City, Johnson County May 8 (5/7/2020)
• Guidance issued for landlords on fair housing and COVID-19 (5/6/2020)
• Community Connection: Refugee and Immigrant Association works to bridge barriers during pandemic (5/5/2020)
• City shares CDC recommendations in multiple languages (5/1/2020)
• Community Connection: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics responds to COVID-19 (4/30/2020)
• Library Closure Update (4/29/2020)
• Community Connection: Domestic violence awareness and resources available during a pandemic (4/28/2020)
• Governor extends closures of businesses and public gathering places for Iowa City, Johnson County (4/27/2020)
• Closure of City Hall and other facilities extended (4/24/2020)
• Community Connection: Absentee voting strongly recommended for Primary Election (4/23/2020)
• Community Connection: Johnson County Public Health adapts during coronavirus pandemic (4/22/2020)
• Update: City offers cloth masks to transit riders who need them (4/22/2020)
• Iowa City Farmers Market partners with Field to Family to offer contact-free market (04/21/2020)
• City announces more changes to parks due to COVID-19 (4/20/2020)
• Terry Trueblood Recreation Area: New One-Way Route on Trail (4/17/2020)
• Landfill to open to rural Johnson County residents for recycling & bagged household trash (4/17/2020)
• Community Connection: Tips for grocery shopping during the coronavirus pandemic (4/16/2020)
• Explore less used City parks to ensure social distancing (4/16/2020)
• Community Connection: Shelter House adapts during coronavirus crisis (4/15/2020)
• City asks transit users to wear cloth masks while on buses (4/10/2020)
• Community Connection: United Way JWC works to provide disaster relief to COVID-19 (4/10/2020)
• CDC releases tips on grocery shopping during COVID-19 pandemic (4/8/2020)
• Iowa City Farmers Market pushes opening day to Saturday, June 6, 2020 (4/8/2020)
• Governor orders malls, more stores closed due to COVID-19 pandemic (4/6/2020)
• Senior Center starts Sewing for Seniors campaign to make homemade masks for COVID-19 (4/6/2020)
• Closures for City Hall, recreation centers extended, along with other City facilities (4/3/2020)
• CommUnity assisting those facing emotional, food, and financial crises (4/2/2020)
• Reminder: residents can pay utility bills at dropbox in front of City Hall (4/2/2020)
• Service Notice: Route changes affecting Oakcrest bus service on weekdays starting Thursday, April 2, 2020 (4/1/2020)
• How can you support local businesses while practicing social distancing? (3/31/2020)
• Landfill announces temporary Saturday closure for commercial waste haulers and contractors (3/30/2020)
• Iowa City Transit reduces weekday service hours (3/28/2020)
• Animal Center accepting food donations for pets of those experiencing hardships (3/27/2020)
• House passes CARES Act (3/27/2020)
• Senior Center offers resources during the COVID-19 outbreak (3/27/2020)
• Supt. Steve Murley discusses COVID-19 response on "Community Connection" (3/27/2020)
• Governor: COVID-19 emergency extended; more retail stores ordered closed (3/26/2020)
• Housing Authority Office closed to the public (3/26/2020)
• Mayor Teague to host Community Connection to address coronavirus (3/25/2020)
• Services available from the Equity and Human Rights Office (3/25/2020)
• Governor announces new Iowa Small Business Relief Program (3/24/2020)
• Iowa City Transit to continue Spring Break service levels indefinitely (03/23/2020) 
• Video Update: Coronavirus Resource Guide (03/22/2020)
• Johnson County Mayors urge residents to stay home & limit non-essential activities (03/22/2020) 
• City Council meeting to be held online due to COVID-19 (03/20/2020)
• City suspends transit fares due to COVID-19 (03/19/2020) 
• Mayor Teague declares Civil Emergency due to COVID-19 (03/18/2020)
• City Hall closes to the public (03/17/2020) 
• Landfill closes to the public (03/17/2020) 
• City urges residents, businesses to avoid large groups (03/16/2020) 
• City closes Library, Senior Center, other facilities (03/15/2020) 

Johnson County News Updates 

• Johnson County News Releases 
  • Johnson County informational flyers on symptoms, sickness response, mental health, and more. 
• Local Transportation Program Updates
  • For more information, contact the County's Mobility Coordinator by email or phone at 319-244-8568. 

Community Connection 

Community Connection is a video series to highlight community response efforts to the COVID-19 outbreak. Mayor Bruce Teague hosts regular conversations with City and Community leaders about efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents during these difficult times. Watch for them on the City's Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor accounts, as well as air on City Channel 4. 

Previous Episodes:

• Iowa City Community School District (7/22/2020)
• Iowa City Public Library (7/14/2020)
• Iowa City Hospice (7/8/2020)
• Iowa City Pride (6/17/2020)
• Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County (6/11/2020)
• Virtual Juneteenth Celebration (6/9/2020)
• Summer of the Arts (5/28/2020)
• Houses into Homes (5/26/2020)
• Community Foundation of Johnson County (5/21/2020)
• Think Iowa City (5/19/2020)
• Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department (5/14/2020)
• Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center (5/12/2020)
• Mercy Iowa City (5/7/2020)
• Refugee and Immigrant Association (5/5/2020)
• University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (4/30/2020)
• Domestic Violence Intervention Program (4/28/2020)
• Vote by Mail during the Primary Election (4/23/2020)
• Johnson County Public Health (4/21/2020)
• Iowa Grocery Industry Association (4/16/2020)
• Shelter House (4/14/2020)
• United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties (4/9/2020)
• City of Iowa City response efforts (4/7/2020)
• CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank (4/2/2020)
• Iowa City Downtown District (3/31/2020)
• Iowa City Community School District (3/26/2020)

Trusted Information Sources 

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a dedicated summary of the virus, including symptoms, risk assessment, and preventative measures. 
  • Cases, Data, and Surveillance
  • CDC COVID Data Tracker
• Iowa Department of Public Health provides up-to-date information regarding this virus on their website, as well as guidance for businesses, schools, healthcare, long-term care, general public, and travelers.
• State of Iowa COVID-19 Updates and Resources 
  • The 211 hotline is available as the central resource for those with questions. 
  • Reopening Guidance for the State of Iowa
• United Way COVID-19 Dashboard includes updated statistics on health, financial, and education impacts. 
• University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics website provides information and resources regarding COVID-19 preparation and response.

 ​​​​