Civil Emergency Proclamation

Waterloo, IA -  Mayor Hart  worked with the Black Hawk County Health Department and the City’s COVID-19 Task Force to formulate this new proclamation taking effect, May 13th. This proclamation declares a civil emergency establishing a new mask mandate and concludes the requirements of the indefinite mask mandate listed in Resolution No. 2021-063. The guidelines and requirements set forth  shall be in effect for the duration of the civil emergency.

The proclamation does the following matching latest CDC guidelines:

  1.  Fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting,
    except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
  2. Fully vaccinated people can refrain from testing following a known exposure unless they
    are residents or employees of a correctional or detention facility or a homeless shelter.
  3. Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing masks or physically distancing, except where required
    by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
  4. You can read the entire proclamation here, which includes additional guidelines 
The public is encouraged to revisit CDC guidelines so they are best equipped to protect themselves. For more information, please visit the CDC website at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html



This proclamation is in effect until June  12th, 2021.  Iowa law and city code grants Mayor Hart the power to declare a civil emergency when he determines a serious public danger exists.  It gives the mayor freedom to issue directives to protect the public and continue city operations that would ordinarily require tedious checks and balances to carryout.  Any order or directive issued to the public under the proclamation is punishable as a misdemeanor. 

For more information about the proclamation, contact Kelley Felchle, City Clerk by calling 319-291-4323 or Kelley.Felchle@Waterloo-IA.org.