Iowa COVID-19 hospitalizations drop to lowest point since pandemic’s early weeks

Jun. 25, 2021 3:34 pm, Updated: Jun. 25, 2021 5:48 pm

A medical worker gives a thumbs-up to a resident after a COVID-19 test May 7 at the Test Iowa site in Cedar Rapids. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Iowa on Friday reported 46 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, the lowest number reported since March 28, 2020, at the start of the pandemic.

Of those hospitalized, 18 were in intensive care units, and 12 were on ventilators to help them breathe.

New cases

The state on Friday reported 79 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of individuals who have tested positive for the virus since March 2020 to 373,441.

Iowa’s seven-day average for new cases is 68.

Of the state’s new cases, 11 were among young people up to age 18. To date, 44,842 minors have tested positive for the virus during the pandemic.

Linn County reported seven new cases, for a county total of 21,260 cases, and a seven-day average of seven.

Johnson County reported no new cases Friday, with a seven-day average of new cases at one. To date, 14,626 cases have been reported in the county since March 2020.

Confirmed deaths

One new confirmed death was reported Friday, bringing the state’s death toll to 6,125.

The death of an individual older than 80 occurred in June in Buchanan County.

Vaccinations

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As of Friday afternoon, 1,416,433 Iowans were fully vaccinated. That’s 52.93 percent of individuals age 12 and older and 44.89 percent of the state’s total population.

The total number of people fully vaccinated within the state, non-Iowans included, is 1,472,233.

In Linn County, 115,537 people are fully vaccinated. That’s 64.03 percent of individuals age 16 or older and 50.96 percent of the county’s total population.

In Johnson County, 85,616 people are fully vaccinated, accounting for 68.87 percent of individuals age 16 or older and 56.65 percent of the total population.

Long-term care facilities

A third long-term care facility in Iowa — the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown — was added to the state’s outbreak list Friday., where eight cases were reported.

An outbreak is considered three or more cases among a facility’s residents and staff.

Friendship Home Association in Audubon and Heritage Care and Rehabilitation Center in Mason City also are experiencing outbreaks, with 26 individuals testing positive.

To date, 2,373 individuals in long-term care facilities have died of COVID-19, accounting for roughly 39 percent of the state’s death toll.

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