COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations back up ahead of Thanksgiving

Iowa surpassed 1 million positive COVID-19 tests over the last week as cases and hospitalizations jumped back up ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

The state added 2,302 positive virus cases as well — the highest weekly total in more than two months. Last week, the new positive case count was 1,980. The actual total is likely higher, given the availability of at-home test kits, which are not reported to the state.

To date, 870,897 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Iowa since the pandemic was first detected in the state in March 2020.

Hospitalizations from the virus increased by 26 percent in the past week after decreasing by 24 percent the week prior. The number of hospitalized patients increased from 137 to 172. ICU patients increased from 16 to 19.

In Linn County, 201 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the past week, up from 178 the previous week. The county has recorded 61,697 cases since March 2020, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.

In Johnson County, 125 cases were reported in the past week, down from 133 the week before. Johnson County has had 43,211 cases.

The state confirmed 23 new deaths, including two in Linn County. Last week, the state number was 24 new death reports.

Since March 2020, 10,276 Iowans have died from COVID-19. That number includes 634 deaths in Linn County.

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