The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 2,545 new positive COVID-19 cases and 123 additional deaths Wednesday.The sharp increase in reported deaths may be due to the state’s change in reporting methods. The health department announced Monday that a change to how the state reports coronavirus-related deaths increased Iowa’s COVID-19 death toll. Prior to the announcement, the health department only reported COVID-19 deaths if the person who died had a positive PCR test result. That method left out deaths in which a person had tested positive using an antigen test and cases in which COVID-19 was listed as the cause of death on a death record without a positive test result.As of 10 a.m., the health department reported 248,782 total cases, 173,439 total recoveries and 3,021 total deaths. A day earlier, the state reported 246,237 total cases and 2,898 total deaths.State data shows 1,161,909 Iowans have been tested for coronavirus. Iowa reports a 15.8% positivity rate over the last 14 days and an 11.7% positivity rate over the last seven.The health department reports 66 of Iowa’s 99 counties with a 14-day positivity rate at 15% or higher. That’s down from 67 the previous day. There are 18 counties with a rate at 20% or higher, unchanged from the day before. Kossuth and Cherokee counties report a rate greater than 30%.The number of Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19 decreased by six, now totaling 894. There were 141 patients admitted in the last 24 hours and 196 patients are in intensive care. There are also 120 patients on ventilators in the state.Iowa reports approximately 3,000 hospital beds, 386 ICU beds and 840 ventilators available. Hospitalization analysis shows 632 patients were hospitalized with a primary COVID-19 diagnosis while 262 were admitted for another reason but tested positive for the virus. Health department data shows 71% of those hospitalized are 60 or older.There are 141 virus outbreaks reported in Iowa’s long-term care facilities. That number is unchanged from the previous day. There are 5,524 positive cases and 2,621 recoveries reported within those facilities. Iowa has reported 1,127 deaths in care facilities.The Iowa Department of Public Health offers virus information in real time on this website dashboard. KCCI publishes a daily data summary at 10 a.m.Gov. Kim Reynolds is scheduled to host a news conference on the state’s response to COVID-19 at 11 a.m. Wednesday. You can watch the briefing on KCCI-TV, the KCCI Breaking News and Weather App, KCCI.com or the KCCI Facebook page.
DES MOINES, Iowa —
The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 2,545 new positive COVID-19 cases and 123 additional deaths Wednesday.
The sharp increase in reported deaths may be due to the state’s change in reporting methods. The health department announced Monday that a change to how the state reports coronavirus-related deaths increased Iowa’s COVID-19 death toll. Prior to the announcement, the health department only reported COVID-19 deaths if the person who died had a positive PCR test result. That method left out deaths in which a person had tested positive using an antigen test and cases in which COVID-19 was listed as the cause of death on a death record without a positive test result.
As of 10 a.m., the health department reported 248,782 total cases, 173,439 total recoveries and 3,021 total deaths. A day earlier, the state reported 246,237 total cases and 2,898 total deaths.
State data shows 1,161,909 Iowans have been tested for coronavirus. Iowa reports a 15.8% positivity rate over the last 14 days and an 11.7% positivity rate over the last seven.
The health department reports 66 of Iowa’s 99 counties with a 14-day positivity rate at 15% or higher. That’s down from 67 the previous day. There are 18 counties with a rate at 20% or higher, unchanged from the day before. Kossuth and Cherokee counties report a rate greater than 30%.
The number of Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19 decreased by six, now totaling 894. There were 141 patients admitted in the last 24 hours and 196 patients are in intensive care. There are also 120 patients on ventilators in the state.
Iowa reports approximately 3,000 hospital beds, 386 ICU beds and 840 ventilators available. Hospitalization analysis shows 632 patients were hospitalized with a primary COVID-19 diagnosis while 262 were admitted for another reason but tested positive for the virus. Health department data shows 71% of those hospitalized are 60 or older.
There are 141 virus outbreaks reported in Iowa’s long-term care facilities. That number is unchanged from the previous day. There are 5,524 positive cases and 2,621 recoveries reported within those facilities. Iowa has reported 1,127 deaths in care facilities.
The Iowa Department of Public Health offers virus information in real time on this website dashboard. KCCI publishes a daily data summary at 10 a.m.
Gov. Kim Reynolds is scheduled to host a news conference on the state’s response to COVID-19 at 11 a.m. Wednesday. You can watch the briefing on KCCI-TV, the KCCI Breaking News and Weather App, KCCI.com or the KCCI Facebook page.