COVID-19 hospitalizations in Iowa exceed 600, ICU beds dwindle

More than 600 people are being treated for COVID-19 in Iowa hospitals, a number not seen since last December.

As of Wednesday, 638 people were hospitalized with the virus, the most since Dec. 23 when 644 people were hospitalized, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.

Additionally, 161 patients were in intensive care units — the most since Dec. 15 — and 74 patients were on ventilators to help them breathe.

In addition, the number of available intensive care beds in Iowa is at its lowest level since March 2020, with 182 beds available across the state.

Individuals who were not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 accounted for 83.9 percent of those in intensive care units and 80.5 percent of the patients hospitalized, the health department reported.

State data shows 3 percent of the new hospital admissions were children 17 and younger, down from last week’s 7 percent. Young people between 18 and 29 accounted for 3 percent of the admissions, down from last week’s 9 percent.

All but one Iowa county continues to be in the “red” category with high rates of community spread of the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Osceola County in northwest Iowa has a “substantial spread” transmission rate.

That means that all of Iowa falls under CDC advice for people — even the vaccinated — to wear masks in indoor spaces.

New cases

Iowa reported 12,163 new COVID-19 cases over the past week, for a seven-day average of 1,738 cases, the highest average since the 1,739 reported Jan. 10.

Those 17 and younger continue to make up the largest percentage of new cases — 26 percent.

The remaining age groups reporting new cases were:

Linn County reported 920 new cases over the past week, with a 10.3 percent positivity rate. That’s down from last week’s 960 cases. The county’s seven-day average for new cases was 131.

Johnson County added 390 cases over the past week, with a 7.1 percent positivity rate and a seven-day average of 56.

Since March 2020, 440,680 Iowans have tested positive for the virus since the virus arrived in Iowa.

Vaccines

As of Wednesday, 1,598,929 Iowans were fully vaccinated against COVID-19, state data shows. That’s 50.68 percent of all Iowans and 59.74 percent of Iowans age 12 and older.

In Linn County, 129,051 individuals are completely vaccinated, up 1,015 from last week. The total is 56.92 percent of the county’s total population and 71.52 percent of individuals age 16 and older.

In Johnson County, 92,964 individuals are completely vaccinated, up 990 from last week. The total is 61.51 percent of the county’s total population and 74.78 percent of individuals ages 16 and older.

Deaths

The state confirmed 82 COVID-19 deaths over the past week, an increase from last week’s 64 deaths.

The newly reported deaths occurred between Aug. 7 and Sept. 18 in 35 counties.

Of those, three were individuals ages 18 to 40; 17 were between 41 and 60; 40 were between 61 and 80; and 22 were 81 and older.

Ten of the deaths were in Linn County. Polk County reported 11 deaths, and Lee County reported six.

Black Hawk and Scott counties each reported four deaths. Three deaths were each reported in Cerro Gordo, Dubuque, Marion, Palo Alto and Pottawattamie counties.

Counties reporting two deaths each were Clarke, Des Moines, Iowa, Johnson, Louisa, Plymouth and Van Buren.

Counties reporting one death each were Clinton, Dickinson, Hancock, Harrison, Henry, Jasper, Jones, Mahaska, Marshall, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Muscatine, O’Brien, Poweshiek, Ringgold, Sioux and Webster.

Long-term care facilities

As of Wednesday, 29 long-term care facilities in the state were reporting virus outbreaks, the highest number since Feb. 17.

An outbreak is three or more cases among residents and staff.

Comments: (319) 398-8238; kat.russell@thegazette.com

John McGlothlen of The Gazette contributed to this report.