The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 1,336 new positive COVID-19 cases and 62 additional deaths Wednesday. Three deaths occurred in southwest Iowa: One in each of Cass, Montgomery and Pottawattamie Counties.

As of 10 a.m., the health department reported 307,569 total cases, 270,556 total recoveries and 4,394 total deaths since the pandemic began. Positivity rates continue to decline in Iowa. The 14-day rate declined from 12% to 11.6% in the last 24 hours. The 7-day positivity rate increased slightly from 8.4% to 8.5%. State data shows 1,430,371 Iowans have been tested for COVID-19, while 3,421,017 tests have been administered.

COVID-19 hospitalizations are once again at the lowest since mid-October. There are 474 Iowans hospitalized with the virus, down from 490 the previous day. There were 85 patients admitted in the last 24 hours, up from 56 the previous day. The state reports 86 patients in intensive care and 36 patients on ventilators. In RMCC Region 4 (western/southwest Iowa hospitals), 38 are hospitalized with COVID symptoms, 12 are in an ICU, seven people were admitted, and four are currently on a ventilator.

The number of long-term care facilities reporting COVID-19 outbreaks declined from 72 to 71. The state reports 1,880 positive cases and 1,030 recoveries among residents and staff within those facilities. There have been 1,786 deaths reported in Iowa’s care facilities.

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, 1,133 cases; {+6}; 42 deaths
• Adair, 688; {+0}; 20
• Adams, 296; {+1}; 3
• Audubon, 416; {+0}; 8
• Guthrie, 1,030 {+0}; 24
• Harrison County, 1,553; {+6}; 62
• Madison County, 1,202; {+3}; 9
• Mills County, 1,364; {+2}; 16
• Montgomery, 859; {+11}; 23
• Pottawattamie County, 8,992; {+33}; 113
• Shelby County, 1032; {+12}; 26
• Union County,  1,088; {+6}; 22