State officials are asking Iowans who’ve recently been in areas where Covid-19 cases have spread to “self-isolate” for 14 days.

Dr. Caitlin Pedati, the state medical director, says that means avoiding close personal contact with other people.

This is advice for Iowans who’ve recently been in China, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea.

Pedati describes self-isolation as trying to stay at least six feet away from other people.

Pedati and other public health officials have been reaching out to Iowa schools and businesses, urging them to call with concerns about absences that may be related to Covid-19 or other illnesses like the flu.