Michaela Ramm

As Iowans prepare to gather with loved ones for the Thanksgiving holiday, virus transmission rates are at the highest levels. Iowa hospital officials are encouraging people to get the COVID-19 booster shot and take other steps to prevent infections among vulnerable Iowans.

A nonprofit has formed to restore and preserve a two-story schoolhouse and auditorium built in 1899 in the unincorporated community of Sharon Center in southwest Johnson County.

Iowa’s four Catholic Dioceses launched a campaign this week to encourage Iowans to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The effort was launched after conversations about vaccine hesitancy between the Diocese of Davenport and the University of Iowa.

Local vaccine providers say they are still seeing high demand for COVID-19 vaccine appointments for children aged 5 to 11 years in the two weeks since federal health officials approved the two-dose Pfizer vaccine for this age group. Health care providers say children who receive the first shot this week will be fully vaccinated by the end-of-year holidays.

New infections increase for fourth week in a row; available ICU beds hit all-time low

Mercy Medical Center says 98.1 percent of all staff are compliant with its COVID-19 vaccine requirement as of Monday, the final day for employees to be fully vaccinated or have an exemption. Hospital officials say “a small percentage” of staff requested and were approved for a religious or medical exemption.

We talked to three kids about what the COVID shot felt like, why they wanted to get vaccinated, and what they would say to other kids about it.

Friday marked the final day for employees of MercyOne to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus or receive an exemption. The health care system had extended the deadline to comply with a new state law that allowed staff previously denied an exemption to reapply.

Linn County Public Health is holding four vaccination clinics at Cedar Rapids schools for children 5 to 11. The clinics, open to any child with a parent present, will take place from Monday, Nov. 29 to Thursday, Dec. 2.

Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids announced new steps to develop its cardiovascular program as part of officials’ ongoing goal to grow the heart program as its patient numbers continue to climb. “We wouldn’t have gone down that path unless we were pretty confident.”

9,067 new cases of COVID-19 infections were reported in the past week, up from 7,643 the previous week and from 6,983 two weeks ago.

Fred Horn, 62, has never served in the military. But on Oct. 5, he was admitted to the Veterans Affairs Health Care System in Iowa City under the “fourth mission,” a policy that allows the VA to assist in times of crisis.

Visitors will have a chance to start holiday shopping at the annual Mistletoe Market this week. The event is scheduled to take place within Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids on Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A 37-year-old Marion man has been charged with sexual abuse after a woman told investigators the man engaged in a sex act by force or against her will at his home in Marion.

Eric Bradley, an environmental health manager at Scott County Public Health, will take on a new role at Linn County Public Health as the deputy director later this month.