Articles Tagged: COVID vaccine

930 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Iowa in the past week, almost double the number reported last week. It’s the first overall increase in virus activity statewide since the peak of the omicron variant’s surge in mid-January.

COVID-19 hospitalizations statewide increased slightly this week, but the virus has slowed enough in the past month for area hospitals to reach a milestone in the pandemic. In some cases, that watershed only lasted for a day.

U.S. regulators on Tuesday authorized another COVID-19 booster for people age 50 and older, a step to offer extra protection for the most vulnerable in case the coronavirus rebounds.

New coronavirus cases and hospitalizations reached new lows this week as state and federal health data showed Iowa continuing to emerge from the latest COVID-19 surge.

With just 23 calendar days — which means closer to 18 actual legislative work days, since lawmakers rarely work on Fridays — remaining until lawmakers’ expense reimbursements run out, the push to adjournment begins in earnest next week.

Sen. Jason Schultz, a Republican from Schleswig, falsely claimed during a Senate committee meeting Wednesday that the COVID-19 vaccines are not effective or safe.

New COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths dropped in Iowa in the past week, continuing the virus’ downard trend.

Among the bills that need at least some movement to survive this week’s funnel deadline are Republicans’ attempts to address what they consider transparency in public school curriculum.

The number of virus-related hospitalizations also is down as the state emerges from the omicron surge.

This week marks the second year since the novel coronavirus first arrived in Iowa, bringing with it a deadly disease that went on to kill thousands and infect tens of thousands more. But in recent weeks, things have changed. Some have begun to relax, wondering if COVID-19 finally is reaching endemic stage. However, for some vulnerable groups, the risk they still face has not changed.

The latest COVID-19 surge in Iowa continues to wind down as hospitalization rates have dropped this week. New cases did see a slight uptick, and vaccination rates continue its slow upward movement.

The Iowa House went two different directions Monday as it extended more local control to cities to deal with public nuisances, but took away local control from public and private schools, day care centers and colleges by prohibiting them from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations.

New COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to decline this week, reaching the lowest numbers reported since August, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.

The Pentagon has approved the deployment of 700 unarmed National Guard troops to the nation’s capital as it prepares for trucker convoys that are planning protests against pandemic restrictions beginning next week.

Federal health officials approved the Pfizer-BioNTech two-dose COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 in early November. But three months later, national data shows the vaccination rate among this age group is still low.