Iowa reports almost 1,400 new COVID-19 cases in past week

Iowa on Wednesday reported 1,396 new cases of COVID-19 for the week of July 14 to 21.

The seven-day daily average of new cases is 199, the highest since 208 on May 19, according to Iowa Department of Public Health data analyzed by The Gazette.

Statewide, the seven-day positivity rate was 5 percent, the highest since April 8, though still well below the rate during the height of the pandemic.

This is the second weekly report of new COVID-19 cases, vaccinations and deaths in Iowa. For the past year, state public health officials had updated totals daily when virus cases were more prevalent.

In moving to weekly instead of daily reports, the state also stopped reporting the number of virus-related hospitalizations and outbreaks at long-term care facilities, though the number of people hospitalized with the virus is reported for each county on Thursdays.

Linn County added 54 new COVID-19 cases in the past week, with a 3.45 percent positivity rate.

Johnson County added 51 new cases in the past seven days,with a 3.55 percent positivity rate.

Iowa has had 376,674 confirmed cases of the virus since March 2020.

Vaccinations

More than 10,000 Iowans became fully vaccinated against the virus in the past week.

Currently, 1,469,526 Iowans are fully vaccinated. That’s 54.91 percent of those 12 and older, and 46.58 percent of all Iowans.

Children under age 12 are not eligible for any COVID-19 vaccine.

In Linn County, 119,735 people are fully vaccinated, up 797 in the past week. That’s 66.36 percent of those 16 and older and 52.82 percent of all county residents.

In Johnson County, 176,122 residents are fully vaccinated, up 895 in the past week. That’s 71.02 percent of those 16 and older and 58.41 percent of all county residents.

Deaths

The state confirmed 12 new deaths from the virus in the past seven days.

Three deaths were reported in Black Hawk County. Marshall and Polk counties each reported two deaths. Coutnies reporting one death each were Audubon, Bremer, Des Moines, Webster and Winneshiek.

Three of the reported deaths occurred in June, and nine in July. Five of the victims were more 81 or older, and five were between 61 and 80. One was 41 to 60, and one was 18 to 40.

To date, 6,170 Iowans have died of COVID-19.

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