The Iowa Department of Public Heath, Thursday, at 10-a.m., reported an additional 690 positive COVID-19 test results returned from the labs since Wednesday, for a pandemic total of 361,764. There were 23 additional deaths reported, for a total of 5,438. There was one additional death in Pottawattamie County, for a pandemic total of 141.

Health officials say Underlying Causes deaths amount to 4,881. The IDPH says 557 deaths listed COVID as a contributing factor, while Long-Term Care (LTC) facility deaths accounted for 2,155  of the total number of deaths. Long-Term Care facility COVID-Outbreaks are down to 18 from Wednesday’s count of 20. Positive cases at LTC’s account for 460 of the total number of positive results, while 301 patients/staff at those facilities have recovered from COVID.

Hospitalizations are down. The IDPH said on Wednesday, there were 233 persons hospitalized with COVID. Thursday’s report shows 227 hospitalizations. COVID patients in an ICU are down slightly, to 55. There were 44 COVID patients admitted to hospitals across the State (compared to 52, Wednesday), and there are 2 patients on a ventilator. Hospitals in Western & Southwest Iowa report: 11 people are hospitalized (3 less than reported on Wed.); six COVID patients are in an ICU, there were NO admissions for COVID, and for the second day, no one was on a ventilator.

Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate as of Wednesday is 4.2%, while the 7-day average is 4.1%. Both are up slightly from Wednesday’s report.

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, 1,323 cases; {+2}; 48 deaths
• Adair, 916; {+5}; 26
• Adams, 326 {+1}; 4
• Audubon, 483 {+1}; 9
• Guthrie, 1,160 {+0}; 28
• Harrison County, 1,787; {+0}; 69
• Madison County, 1,536; {+5}; 18
• Mills County, 1,623; {+4}; 20
• Montgomery, 1,038; {+2}; 36
• Pottawattamie County, 10,714; {+36}; 141
• Shelby County, 1,200; {+3}; 33
• Union County,  1,260; {+1}; 31