Iowa’s rate of COVID-19 cases is 2nd worst in the nation, Johns Hopkins University data says

Iowa's rate of confirmed COVID-19 infections soared to a record high Tuesday, cementing the state as the second-worst in the nation for the percentage of new cases added over the last seven days.

In the 24-hour period ending at 11 a.m. Tuesday, roughly 2 in 5 - 41.02 percent - of the 3,805 tests run in Iowa were positive.

According to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, Iowa's worsening positivity rate over the last week averages to 37.4 percent - second worst in the nation only to South Dakota's average of 50.6 percent.

With the rate of new cases surging, the number of patients checking in to Iowa hospitals for treatment of the virus is surging also. For the ninth day in a row, Iowa again set a record Tuesday for treating the most COVID-19 patients ever.

According to data from the Iowa Department of Public Health, Iowa's hospitals were treating 730 COVID-19 patents as of 11 a.m. Tuesday, up from 718 a day earlier. The number of those in intensive care also hit a new high, climbing from 156 to 170. Patients requiring ventilators to help them breathe also saw an uptick, from 57 to 59.

A total of 22 confirmed deaths in 20 counties were recorded in the 24-hour period, bringing the state's death toll to 1,756.

Scott County recorded three deaths. Black Hawk, Boone, Cass, Cherokee, Delaware, Des Moines, Dubuque, Harrison, Iowa, Johnson, Linn, Marion, Mitchell, O'Brien, Polk, Sac, Union, Wapello and Webster counties reported one death each.

In the past week, Iowa reported 103 coronavirus deaths. In October, there were 370 reported.

The state recorded 1,561 new cases in the 24-hour period, bringing the Iowa's total number of cases to 133,294. The state's seven-day average is 2,237 - setting a record high for the 11th straight day.

The number of Iowa counties with a positivity rate above 15 percent also reached a new peak at 55. All 99 Iowa counties have a rate of 7.5 percent or above.

Linn County reported 151 new cases Tuesday, the most of any Iowa county in that 24-hour period, for an overall total since March of 6,954. The county's seven-day average is 188 - another record high for 13 days in a row - with a positivity rate of 40.3 percent.

Johnson County added 39 cases in the period, bringing its total to 6,331. The county's seven-day average is 63 cases per day and its positivity rate is 28.89 percent.

The state added four long-term care facilities to its outbreak list.

Keystone Nursing Home in Benton County reported three cases, ManorCare Health Services in Dubuque County reported seven cases and one recovery, Grand Jivante in Hardin County reported five cases and Accura Healthcare in Marion County reported nine cases.

Positive cases among school-aged children up to age 17 rose by 149, bringing the total to 11,908. Cases among education workers rose by 135, for a total of 6,720.

Iowa hospital officials and doctors continue to warn that unless Iowans wear masks, socially distance, avoid crowds and get a flu shot, deaths and hospitalizations will continue to rise, possibly overwhelming hospitals.

Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has spent much of the last few weeks campaigning for Republican candidates, hasn't taken any action in response to the recent surge of cases.

An aide said she would publicly discuss the situation later in the week.

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

The Associated Press and John McGlothlen of The Gazette contributed to this report.