The Iowa Department of Public Health, Wednesday, said there were 624 new positive cases of COVID-19 test results returned from the labs over the past 24-hours, for a pandemic total of 330,436 positive cases.  There were also 26 additional deaths, for a pandemic total to-date of 5,306, including one additional death in Adair County. Statewide, 4,781 COVID deaths are attributed to Underlying causes. COVID was a contributing factor to 525 deaths. Deaths at Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities account for 2,137 of the total number of deaths.

Long-Term Care facility outbreaks stand at 29. Officials say 791 LTC patients have tested positive for the virus, and 534 have recovered.

The State data show hospitalizations continue to decline: There are currently 235 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, compared to 255 Tuesday; 52 COVID patients are in an ICU; 44 were admitted over the previous 24-hours, and 20 patients were on a ventilator. In RMCC Region 4 (Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa), 14 are hospitalized with COVID symptoms, five people are in an ICU, no one was admitted over the past 24-hours, and one person remains on a ventilator.

Iowa’s statewide positivity rate continues to decline, from 7.5% Tuesday to 7.3% Wednesday. The 7-day average remains 5.6%.

A total of 305,273 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, 1,239 cases; {+7}; 47 deaths
• Adair, 782; {+7}; 26
• Adams, 317 {+0}; 3
• Audubon, 463 {+7}; 9
• Guthrie, 1,072 {+1}; 28
• Harrison County, 1,650; {+2}; 68
• Madison County, 1,373; {+4}; 17
• Mills County, 1,459; {+2}; 20
• Montgomery, 954; {+0}; 36
• Pottawattamie County, 9,632; {+19}; 140
• Shelby County, 1,131; {+1}; 32
• Union County,  1,169; {+0}; 31