IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. STACEY: WHEN IT COMES TO COVID-19, THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON DEATHS, HOSPITALIZATIONS AND THE NUMBER OF NEW POSITIVE CASES. STEVE: BUT IT’S NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM. ONE FAMILY REFUSED TO LET A CLOUDY, COLD, AND RAINY WEDNESDAY MORNING DAMPEN THEIR SPIRITS. KCCI’S MARCUS MCINTOSH HAS THEIR HAPPY ENDING TONIGHT IN ANKNEY. >> THIS HAS BEEN THE ANSWER TO MANY PRAYERS. IT IS A VERY EXCITING DAY. MARCUS: TEARS OF JOY FOR RUTH GORTER, WHO COULD ONLY SEE HER 71-YEAR-OLD HUSBAND THROUGH WINDOWS. SHE WAS SURROUNDED BY FAMILY AS HAROLD GORTER WAS RELEASED FROM REHABILITATION AT 10:00 WEDENSDAY MORNING. >> IT’S GOING TO BE AMAZING. WHEN HE CAME OF THE VENTILATOR, HE WAS SO WEAK HE COULD NOT LIFT HIS FINGERS OFF THE BED. IT HAS BEEN A VERY — WE WERE NOT SURE WHERE RECOVERY WAS GOING TO GO AT THAT TIME. MARCUS: HAROLD GORTER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH COVID 19 IN LATE HE SPENT A MONTH AT MERCY ONE AUGUST. DES MOINES. HE’S BEEN AT THE BRIDGES AT ANKENY, A SKILLED NURSING FACILITY, SINCE OCTOBER 2 WHERE HE HAD TO RELEARN HOW TO WALK, TALK, AND EAT. >> I AM FEELING PRETTY GOOD. I JUST APPRECIATE WHAT EVERYONE HERE HAS DONE FOR ME. MARCUS: IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL REUNION FOR GORTER AND HIS FAMILY. IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL BUT HAPPY GOODBYE FOR THOSE WORKING AT THE BRIDGES AT ANKENY. >> THAT’S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING PARTS OF THE JOB. MARCUS: GORTER CALLS THE PEOPLE WHO CARED FOR HIM SPECIAL AND DEDICATED. SAYING HE IS ABLE TO WALK OUT OF REHABILITATION BECAUSE OF THAT HELP WITH SOME ASSISTANCE FROM ABOVE. >> THANK THE LORD FOR GETTING THROUGH WHAT I HAVE GONE THROU . IF IT WASN’T FOR HIM, I WOULDN’T BE HERE. I’VE JUST GOT CHRIST TO THANK FOR ALL HIS BLESSINGS.
Iowa reports 41 additional COVID-19 deaths as more facilities report outbreaks
Updated: 9:55 AM CST Nov 26, 2020
The Iowa Department of Public Health on Thursday reported 41 additional COVID-19 deaths as three more long-term care facilities report virus outbreaks.The health department reported 3,331 new positive COVID-19 cases. As of 10 a.m., Iowa reported 222,278 total positive cases, 124,522 total recoveries and 2,312 total deaths. The state reported 218,947 total cases and 2,271 total deaths 24 hours earlier.Health department data shows 1,194,529 Iowans have been tested for coronavirus. The state received 8,712 individual lab test results in the previous day, with 1,923 positive cases. The health department receives test results from prior days that add to the overall total. Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate continues to decline at 18.6%. That’s down from 19.1% one day earlier.Fewer Iowa counties report a 14-day positivity rate greater than 15%. There are now 88 counties with a rate at 15% or higher, down from 91 the day before. Schools in those counties can apply for a waiver to provide 100% distance instruction. There are 49 counties with a rate greater than 20%, down from 53 the previous day. Lyon County reports in at 32.4%, currently the highest in the state.The number of Iowans hospitalized with the virus has declined again. There are currently 1,269 hospitalized, down from 1,305 a day earlier. There were 193 patients hospitalized in the last 24 hours, down from 198 the previous day. There are 271 patients in intensive care, down from 269 one day before. State data shows the patients on ventilators declined from 150 to 142.Iowa reports approximately 3,060 hospital beds, 356 ICU beds and 849 ventilators available. Hospitalization analysis shows 939 of those hospitalized had a primary COVID-19 diagnosis, while 330 were hospitalized for another reason but tested positive. State data shows 77% of patients are 60 or older.Three more long-term care facilities report COVID-19 outbreaks in Iowa. That brings the total to 152. There are 4,651 positive cases and 1,800 recoveries reported within those facilities. There have been 1,038 deaths reported in Iowa’s long-term care facilities.The Iowa Department of Public Health provides COVID-19 information in real time on this website dashboard. KCCI publishes a daily summary of that data at 10 a.m.All TestIowa sites are closed for the Thanksgiving holiday but will open for regular hours again Friday.
DES MOINES, Iowa —
The Iowa Department of Public Health on Thursday reported 41 additional COVID-19 deaths as three more long-term care facilities report virus outbreaks.
The health department reported 3,331 new positive COVID-19 cases. As of 10 a.m., Iowa reported 222,278 total positive cases, 124,522 total recoveries and 2,312 total deaths. The state reported 218,947 total cases and 2,271 total deaths 24 hours earlier.
Health department data shows 1,194,529 Iowans have been tested for coronavirus. The state received 8,712 individual lab test results in the previous day, with 1,923 positive cases. The health department receives test results from prior days that add to the overall total. Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate continues to decline at 18.6%. That’s down from 19.1% one day earlier.
Fewer Iowa counties report a 14-day positivity rate greater than 15%. There are now 88 counties with a rate at 15% or higher, down from 91 the day before. Schools in those counties can apply for a waiver to provide 100% distance instruction. There are 49 counties with a rate greater than 20%, down from 53 the previous day. Lyon County reports in at 32.4%, currently the highest in the state.
The number of Iowans hospitalized with the virus has declined again. There are currently 1,269 hospitalized, down from 1,305 a day earlier. There were 193 patients hospitalized in the last 24 hours, down from 198 the previous day. There are 271 patients in intensive care, down from 269 one day before. State data shows the patients on ventilators declined from 150 to 142.
Iowa reports approximately 3,060 hospital beds, 356 ICU beds and 849 ventilators available. Hospitalization analysis shows 939 of those hospitalized had a primary COVID-19 diagnosis, while 330 were hospitalized for another reason but tested positive. State data shows 77% of patients are 60 or older.
Three more long-term care facilities report COVID-19 outbreaks in Iowa. That brings the total to 152. There are 4,651 positive cases and 1,800 recoveries reported within those facilities. There have been 1,038 deaths reported in Iowa’s long-term care facilities.
The Iowa Department of Public Health provides COVID-19 information in real time on this website dashboard. KCCI publishes a daily summary of that data at 10 a.m.
All TestIowa sites are closed for the Thanksgiving holiday but will open for regular hours again Friday.