(Update 10-a.m. Friday) The Iowa Department of Public Health, Friday, said there were 738 new positive cases of COVID-19 test results returned from the labs over the past 24-hours, for a pandemic total of 327,993 positive cases. There were 27 additional deaths reported, for a total of 5,223. Statewide, 4,714 COVID deaths are attributed to Underlying causes. COVID was a contributing factor to 509 deaths. Deaths at Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities account for 2,136 deaths. There were two more deaths in the KJAN listening area: one each in Montgomery and Pottawattemie Counties (see more data below).

Long-Term Care facility outbreaks went from 38 Thursday to 37 on Friday. Officials say 1,018 LTC patients have tested positive for the virus, and 659 have recovered. Iowa’s COVID-19 hospitalizations are at their lowest level since August.

The State data show 249 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, which is down from 273 in the previous report. Officials say 59 patients are in an ICU, 41 were admitted over the previous 24-hours, and 33 patients are on ventilators. In RMCC Region 4 (Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa), 13 are hospitalized with COVID symptoms, six people are in an ICU, one person was admitted over the past 24-hours, and one person was on a ventilator.

Iowa’s statewide positivity rate Friday, was 8.2%, compared to 8.4% Thursday. The 7-day average was up slightly to 6.3%. Adair County remains the only county in Iowa with a 14-day positivity rate greater than 15%. Adair County reports a 22% rate. The next highest county, Crawford County, reports a 13.5% rate. Mitchell County reports the lowest average in the state at 2.1%.

A total of 300,365 Iowans have recovered from the virus.

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, 1,226 cases; {+3}; 46 deaths
• Adair, 758; {+3}; 25
• Adams, 315; {+2}; 3
• Audubon, 450 {+1}; 9
• Guthrie, 1,068 {+1}; 28
• Harrison County, 1,643; {+3}; 68
• Madison County, 1,353; {+1}; 16
• Mills County, 1,452; {+6}; 20
• Montgomery, 952; {+3}; 36
• Pottawattamie County, 9,551; {+13}; 139
• Shelby County, 1,121; {+5}; 32
• Union County,  1,166; {+1}; 31