Porn shops staying open despite nonessential business shuttering under coronavirus lockdown

A SEX shop chain remains open to the public – despite businesses such as flower shops and clothing stores ordered to close during the coronavirus outbreak.

Romantix currently has nine stores open in Iowa, including two in the state capital Des Moines, despite the COVID-19 outbreak.

Customers can enter the stores in person and buy a range of products, including lingerie and sex toys despite a closure order affecting many stores.

Store reps at the Des Moines locations confirmed on Friday that they had not closed, according to the Des Moines Register.

In an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19 Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds ordered most nonessential retail stores to close last week.

Businesses included in the order include flower shops, bookstores, jewelry stores, luggage stores and cosmetic, perfume and beauty supply stores.

The order has been extended the order through to April 30 – but it doesn’t cite porn shops.

As such, Romantix management is remaining open  – despite several similar businesses grinding to a halt.

Lovers Playground, which operates adult-oriented stores in Des Moines and Burlington closed its Iowa locations on March 27 until further notice, according to its website

On the weekend,  nearly 700 coronavirus cases had been reported statewide in Iowa, according to data obtained by the Register.

Nearly 15% of those confirmed cases were in Polk County, where Des Moines is located.

Iowa is one of a minority of states that have not issued a stay-at-home order, which limit residents from leaving their homes except out of necessity.

Governor Reynolds said Friday: “The term ‘shelter-in-place’ does not mean that any state orders are different from or stronger than what we are doing in Iowa.

“What matters is the substance of order, not its name.”