Virus hospitalizations set another record in Iowa

The number of Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19 set another record Thursday - at 449 - eclipsing the record of 444 set the day before.

The number of patients on ventilators decreased from 42 to 39.

The state also reported its second-highest number of COVID-19 cases - 1,514 - in the 24 hours that ended at 11 a.m. Thursday, according to data collected by the Iowa Department of Public Health and analyzed by The Gazette.

The new cases bring the total diagnosed cases in Iowa to 95,870 since the virus arrived in Iowa in March.

The positive cases were identified in 9,003 tests, for a positivity rate of 16.82 percent.

Of the new cases, 150 were found in people 17 and younger; 81 cases concerned people in an education occupation.

Fifteen Iowa counties, most of them in western Iowa, now have a 14-day positivity rate averaging more than 15 percent. Delaware County in northeast Iowa is among those 15 counties.

Also on Thursday, five deaths were reported, including one in Linn County, where the county's death toll is now 117. Cedar, Marshall, Pottawattamie and Sac counties reported one death each.

Linn County reported 43 new virus cases, for a total of 4,526 since March. The county's seven-day average is 44 and its positivity rate is 7.92 percent.

Johnson County also reported 43 new cases Thursday, for a total 5,363. The seven-day average is 22, with a positivity rate of 12.29 percent.

Story County, home to Iowa State University, added 27 new cases for a total of 3,640. The county's seven-day average is 18 and its positivity rate is 21.77 percent.

Black Hawk County, home to the University of Northern Iowa, reported 36 new virus cases for a total of 4,746.

LONG-TERM CARE

Long-term care facility outbreaks still are an issue in the state as well. Cherokee Specialty Care in Cherokee County was added to the outbreak list with four cases, two recovered.

However, multiple facilities were removed from the list on Thursday including Eagle Point Health Care Center in Clinton County, Rehabilitation Center of Hampton in Franklin County and for the second time ever, Mitchell Village Care Center in Mitchellville was removed from the list.

Comments: (319) 398-8255; gage.miskimen@thegazette.com

John McGlothlen of The Gazette contributed to this report.