Iowa sees third-largest increase in positive COVID-19 cases reported in a 24-hour period

Iowa reported 1,324 new COVID-19 cases as of 11 a.m. Friday, the third-highest total reported in a 24-hour period since the start of pandemic testing.

The increase brings the state's total cases to 78,299 since March.

Also, of the 6,554 tests conducted in the past 24 hours, 20.54 percent were positive, one of the highest rates reported since March.

The last time Iowa saw such a large, single-day increase in new cases was Aug. 26, when the state reported 1,477 new cases.

The largest single-day increase came the next day - Aug. 27, the day antigen tests were added into the state's daily totals - when 2,579 new cases were reported.

Of the Friday total, 160 cases - or 12 percent - were in the 17 and younger age group. That age group, since March, has had 6,089 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to Iowa Department of Public Health data analyzed by The Gazette.

One of the new cases involved a person in an 'education occupation,” though no specifics were given. That occupation group has accounted for 2,827 cases since testing began.

Linn County on Friday reported 62 new cases, with a 19.75 percent positivity rate. The seven-day average for new cases is 42.

Johnson County reported 47 new cases, with a 16.85 percent positivity rate. Its seven-day average for new cases is 31.

Story County, home to Iowa State University, reported 39 new cases, with a 19.7 percent positivity rate. Its seven-day average is 25.

Black Hawk County, home to the University of Northern Iowa, reported 46 new cases, with a 14.89 percent positive rate. Its seven-day average of new cases is 25.

Deaths

Ten COVID-19-related deaths were reported Friday - including three in Linn County.

To date, 1,258 Iowans have died of the virus, 104 of them in Linn County.

Counties reporting one additional death Friday were Black Hawk, Howard, Monroe, Polk, Scott, Tama and Woodbury.

Hospitalizations in the state increased from 271 to 281, with the number of patients in intensive care increasing by six to 91. Of those, 39 are on ventilators.

Long-term care

The Hiawatha Care Center on Friday reported one new coronavirus case, bringing its total number of cases to 26.

Winslow Care Center in Marion reported 10 recoveries, for a total of 28, with 38 cases still being treated.

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

Katie Brumbeloe of The Gazette contributed to this report.