The Iowa Department of Public Health Friday (today), said the number of Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19 continues to drop. IDPH reports 600 Iowans are hospitalized with the virus,. down from 628 a day earlier, and the lowest total reported since October 28th. There are 121 patients listed in intensive care, down six from the previous day. There were 104 patients admitted in the last 24 hours and there are 69 patients on ventilators.

Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa (RMCC Region 4) report: 38 hospitalized; 13 are in an ICU; six people were admitted, and seven are on a ventilator.

The health department reported 1,473 new positive cases and five additional deaths Friday, one of which was reported in Pottawattamie County. As of 10 a.m., the state reported 273,917 total cases, 225,157 total recoveries and 3,744 total deaths. The state reported 272,444 total cases and 3,379 total deaths 24 hours earlier. Of Iowa’s COVID-19 deaths, 3,438 list COVID-19 as the primary cause and 306 list it as a contributing factor.

Health department data shows 1,337,938 Iowans have been tested for COVID-19. Iowa reports a 14-day positivity rate of 12.3% and a 7-day positivity rate of 9.6%.  The health department reported 1,473 new positive cases and five additional deaths Friday. As of 10 a.m., the state reported 273,917 total cases, 225,157 total recoveries and 3,744 total deaths. The state reported 272,444 total cases and 3,379 total deaths 24 hours earlier. Of Iowa’s COVID-19 deaths, 3,438 list COVID-19 as the primary cause and 306 list it as a contributing factor.

The IDPH reports 127 COVID-19 outbreaks among long-term care facilities in the state, which is unchanged from the last report.  There are 5,222 positive cases and 3,076 recoveries reported within those facilities. The state reports a total of 1,137 deaths within long-term care facilities.

All TestIowa sites are closed Christmas Day. They are scheduled reopen on Monday.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

• Cass, 1,008 cases; {+3}; 38 deaths
• Adair, 577; {+16}; 17
• Adams, 249; {+4}; 2
• Audubon, 363; {+0}; 7
• Guthrie, 928; {+12}; 22
• Harrison County, 1,386; {+7}; 52
• Madison County, 914; {+10}; 8
• Mills County, 1,253; {+4}; 14
• Montgomery, 713; {+17}; 15
• Pottawattamie County, 8,056; {+42}; 90
• Shelby County, 922; {+8}; 23
• Union County,  1,001; {+3}; 16