News & Announcements
Iowa Public Health Guidelines Regarding Auctions
What precautions should I take to hold sales auctions during the COVID-19 pandemic?
- We recommend you hold virtual (online or over-the-phone) sales to the best of your ability.
- Consider limiting in-person auctions to only serious bidders.
- For in-person auctions, whether indoors or outdoors, identify critical functions and determine how to manage movement between employees and attendees.
- Auctions should not exceed 50% of its normal operating capacity to ensure adequate spacing of groups. Limit the number of participants present in any outdoor venue with grandstands or other permanent seating to 50% of its normal operating capacity and the number of participants in other outdoor settings to a number that permits social distancing of 6 feet is required.
- Cloth face coverings should be strongly encouraged when coming in contact with other people. Cloth face coverings are not a substitute for maintaining social distancing of six feet between persons from different households.
- Limit people coming to your auction sale location as much as possible. Organize equipment/ products/ items for sale to be dropped off and picked up either one load at a time or instruct people lined up with trailers to wait in their vehicles until it is their turn to load or offload.
- Concessions and food and beverage services should not be offered.
- Develop a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan.
Governor Announces Auctions Permitted to Open Friday
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On Wednesday, May 20, Governor Reynolds signed a new proclamation continuing the Public Health Disaster Emergency. Effective Friday, May 22, select local businesses, including auctions, are permitted to open with appropriate public health measures.
According to the proclamation, starting May 22, "any auctions may operate, so long as there are no more than 25 people present in person. Auctions with more than 25 people present in person may operate only if they are conducted outdoors and the auction organizer takes measures to ensure that each group or individual attending alone maintains at least six feet of physical distance. All other auctions continue to be prohibited until 11:59 p.m. on May 27, 2020, at all locations and venues."
