The Iowa Department of Public Health, Saturday, reported 41 additional COVID-19 deaths and 555 new cases of the virus since the previous 24-hour cycle. The total number of death as of 10-a.m. Saturday amounted to 5,108 since the beginning of the pandemic, and 323,872 positive cases altogether. In western/southwest Iowa, there were four additional deaths in Pottawattamie County, two more in Montgomery County, and one each in Shelby and Union Counties (See the current totals below).

Of those who died, 4,618 had an underlying condition, while COVID was a contributing factor to 490 deaths. Long-Term Care Center (LTC) deaths account for 2,092 of the total number of deaths. LTC outbreaks are up slightly, to 44. LTC patients testing positive amount too 1,383, with 906 having recovered from the virus.

COVID-19 hospitalization data show 336 are hospitalized (compared to 348 on Friday), 67 patients in ICU, 47 were admitted, and 30 patients are on ventilators. In RMCC Region 4 (Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa),  22 are hospitalized with COVID symptoms, eight are in an ICU, five people was admitted since Friday, and three people are on a ventilator.

Iowa’s statewide positivity rate continues to decline. The 14-day positivity rate dropped from 9.1% Friday to 8.9% Saturday. The 7-day average dropped from 7.1% to 6.8%.   A total of 293,101 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, 1,203 cases; {+1}; 46 deaths
• Adair, 720; {+2}; 25
• Adams, 311; {+1}; 3
• Audubon, 441 {+1}; 9
• Guthrie, 1,064 {+0}; 27
• Harrison County, 1,631; {+4}; 67
• Madison County, 1,333; {+2}; 13
• Mills County, 1,4258; {+7}; 20
• Montgomery, 933; {+1}; 34
• Pottawattamie County, 9,454; {+15}; 134
• Shelby County, 1,112; {+3}; 32
• Union County,  1,156; {+0}; 30