Des Moines Public Schools is among the first districts in the state to issue a mask mandate after a federal judge blocked enforcement of the Iowa law that bans mask mandates in schools.

The challenge to the law was brought by a group of parents of disabled Iowa students, arguing their children face a greater threat of contracting Covid and the state law on mask mandates in schools is discriminatory. Federal Judge Robert Pratt cited the recent drastic increase in Covid cases among Iowa children and he issued a temporary injunction, barring the law from being enforced, until the lawsuit is decided. Governor Kim Reynolds says the ruling takes away parents’ ability to decide whether their children wear masks at school and the state will appeal the federal court ruling.