The Iowa Department of Public Health, Thursday (today), said there were 628 new positive cases of COVID-19 test results returned from the labs over the past 24-hours, for a pandemic total of 331,064 positive cases.  There were also 15 additional deaths, for a pandemic total to-date of 5,321, including one additional death in Cass County. Statewide, 4,792 COVID deaths are attributed to Underlying causes. COVID was a contributing factor to 529 deaths. Deaths at Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities account for 2,139 of the total number of deaths.

Long-Term Care facility outbreaks declined to 27 from 29 on Wednesday. Officials say 771 LTC patients have tested positive for the virus, and 517 have recovered.

The State data show hospitalizations shows an uptick, from 235 Wednesday to 252 Thursday. COVID patients in an ICU increased from 52 to 59. The State says 52 were admitted over the previous 24-hours, and 24 patients were on a ventilator. In RMCC Region 4 (Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa), 13 are hospitalized with COVID symptoms, three people are in an ICU, one person was admitted over the past 24-hours, and one person remains on a ventilator.

Iowa’s statewide positivity rate continues to decline, from 7.3% Wednesday to 7.2% Thursday, and the 7-day average is down to 5.4%.

A total of 306,382 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; {+0}; 48 deaths
• Adair, 787; {+5}; 26
• Adams, 317 {+0}; 3
• Audubon, 464 {+1}; 9
• Guthrie, 1,073 {+1}; 28
• Harrison County, 1,650; {+0}; 68
• Madison County, 1,378; {+5}; 17
• Mills County, 1,460; {+1}; 20
• Montgomery, 954; {+0}; 36
• Pottawattamie County, 9,649; {+17}; 140
• Shelby County, 1,134; {+3}; 32
• Union County,  1,174; {+5}; 31