Des Moines, Iowa — The Iowa Judicial Branch today (Friday), announced it is ending the requirement masks be worn during court cases, beginning on Monday. The rule was put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 during the surges from the delta and omicron variants.

Judges will still be able to require face coverings as they see necessary. The Iowa Supreme Court said in a News release,  “The current general mask requirement, a temporary measure reinstituted principally to address the rise of infectious COVID-19 variants, may again be discontinued, with judges retaining discretion to address COVID-related safety measures in proceedings as necessary on a case-by-case basis.”