Iowa COVID cases up slightly

The number of new COVID-19 cases increased slightly to 1,863 in the past week, up 2 percent from the previous week, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported Wednesday.

In the previous week, 1,827 new cases were reported. The actual total is likely higher, given the availability of at-home test kits, which are not reported to the state.

To date, 866,615 people have tested positive in Iowa since the pandemic arrived in the state in March 2020.

In Linn County, 186 new cases were reported in the past week, up from 144 reported the previous week. The county has seen 61,588 cases since March 2020.

In Johnson County, 139 cases were reported in the past week, up from 120 the week before. Johnson County has had 42,953 cases.

Deaths

The state confirmed 22 deaths, including one in Linn County, from the virus in the past week. Last week, that number was 30.

Since March 2020, 10,229 Iowans have died from the virus. That number includes 629 deaths in Linn County.

Hospitalizations

COVID-related hospitalizations increased from 161 to 180 in Iowa, and intensive-care patients increased from nine to 17 in the past week, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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