DES MOINES, Iowa - Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, is urging residents to practice a strict “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” policy on themselves in response to the spread of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.
“To ensure we are doing everything possible to prevent the spread of the pandemic, it is my strong recommendation that Des Moines residents stay home for at least 14 days,” Cownie said. “We know from health officials that the single, best way to control the spread of COVID-19 is to avoid unnecessary contact with others, it is vital we as a community begin voluntarily to take that action as quickly as possible.”
Cownie wants Des Moines residents to only leave their homes for essential needs such as groceries, medicine and health care for a two-week period. He stressed that such efforts should be limited to one or two people per household and not become a family outing. He did endorse getting fresh air and exercise while appropriately social distancing.
In a news Release, Cownie also announced the city will stop all parking meter enforcement except where parking is prohibited – near fire hydrants, fire lanes and loading zones. The downtown Des Moines area has numerous apartment buildings and condos where the only access to parking is on city streets.