The Iowa Department of Public Health, Monday, reported 261 new cases of the COVID-19 virus since the previous 24-hour cycle, for a pandemic total of 324,666 positive cases. There were also two deaths reported, including one in Pottawattamie County, bringing the total number of deaths since the start of the pandemic 5,110.  Deaths attributed to Underlying Causes amount to 4,620, with COVID a contributing factor to 490 deaths. Pre-existing conditions comprise 4,701 deaths. Deaths at Long-Term Care (LTC) Centers account for 2,093 of the total deaths statewide.

Long-Term Care facility outbreaks are down slightly, to 43. LTC patients testing positive amount to 1,382, with 926 having recovered from the virus. COVID-19 hospitalization data show 318 are hospitalized (compared to 316 previously), 69 patients are in an ICU, 34 were admitted, and 35 patients are on ventilators. In RMCC Region 4 (Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa), 16 are hospitalized with COVID symptoms, nine are in an ICU, one person was admitted since Sunday, and three people remain on a ventilator.

Iowa’s statewide positivity rate is down slightly. The 14-day positivity rate is 8.8% compared to 8.9% on Sunday. The 7-day average is up a bit, from 6.1% Sunday to 6.6% on Monday.   A total of 294,119 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, 1,207 cases; {+2}; 46 deaths
• Adair, 721; {+0}; 25
• Adams, 313; {+0}; 3
• Audubon, 445 {+1}; 9
• Guthrie, 1,065 {+0}; 27
• Harrison County, 1,636; {+4}; 67
• Madison County, 1,337; {+0}; 13
• Mills County, 1,429; {+1}; 20
• Montgomery, 938; {+3}; 34
• Pottawattamie County, 9,465; {+5}; 135
• Shelby County, 1,110; {+0}; 32
• Union County,  1,157; {+0}; 30