Iowa COVID-19 hospitalizations drop to levels seen in spring 2020

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 in Iowa reached their lowest level since last June, and the seven-day case average continued to decline as more Iowans get vaccinated.

Nearly 48 percent, or 1.27 million, of all Iowans eligible for a COVID vaccine — ages 12 and older — are fully vaccinated as of 1:30 p.m. Sunday, according to Iowa Department of Public Health data. Of the entire state population, more than 40 percent of Iowans are vaccinated.

COVID hospitalizations dropped to 131 as of 11 a.m. Sunday, the lowest since June 29 of last year. And the seven-day average declined for the 11th consecutive day to 180, the lowest since April 18, 2020.

Vaccinations

In Linn County, 101,055 residents are fully vaccinated, up 253 in the 24-hour period. Of Linn residents 16 and older, 56 percent are vaccinated, and 44.58 percent of the total county population is vaccinated.

In Johnson County, 61.96 percent of the 16 and older population is fully vaccinated. There are 77,027 residents fully vaccinated — 50.96 percent of the total population — up 339 from Saturday.

Nationwide, 39.6 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University's Coronavirus Resource Center.

New cases

In a 24-hour period ending at noon Sunday, Iowa added 115 new COVID-19 cases for a total of 370,615 confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic.

Linn County added 11 cases in the 24-hour period, for a total of 20,994 and a seven-day average of 13 cases. Johnson County added six cases for a total of 14,533 and a seven-day average of five.

No new cases were added for adults in the education occupation category, and 22 cases were added among children age 17 and younger, according to state data.

Deaths

There were no new COVID-19 deaths confirmed Sunday, with the total deaths because of the virus remaining at 6,035 since Friday.

Nationwide, there are 589,855 deaths, according to the data collected by Johns Hopkins University.

Hospitalizations

Of the 131 patients being treated for COVID-19 in Iowa hospitals, 39 patients were in intensive care and 18 patients were on ventilators, according to state data.

John McGlothlen of The Gazette contributed to this report.