The Iowa Department of Public Health, Tuesday, reported 713 new cases of the COVID-19 virus since the previous 24-hour cycle, for a pandemic total of 325,379 positive cases. There were also 35 additional deaths reported since 10-a.m. Monday, for a total of 5,145. In our area, there were two more deaths in Madison County, and one each in Pottawattamie and Union Counties.

Statewide, 4,650 COVID deaths are attributed to underlying causes, COVID is a contributing factor in 495 deaths, and deaths at Long-Term Care (LTC) Centers account for 2,098 of the total deaths statewide.

Long-Term Care facility outbreaks are down, from 43 on Monday to 35 Tuesday. LTC patients testing positive amount to 941, with 599 having recovered from the virus. COVID-19 hospitalization data show 327 are hospitalized (compared to 318 previously), 67 patients are in an ICU, 40 were admitted, and 29 patients are on ventilators. In RMCC Region 4 (Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa), 16 are hospitalized with COVID symptoms, nine are in an ICU, two people were admitted since Monday, and three people remain on a ventilator.

Iowa’s statewide positivity rate is down slightly. The 14-day positivity rate is 8.5% compared to 8.8% on Monday. The 7-day average is down from 6.6% Monday to 6.2% Tuesday.   A total of 296,440 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, 1,210 cases; {+3}; 46 deaths
• Adair, 721; {+0}; 25
• Adams, 313; {+0}; 3
• Audubon, 446 {+1}; 9
• Guthrie, 1,065 {+0}; 27
• Harrison County, 1,636; {+0}; 67
• Madison County, 1,346; {+9}; 15
• Mills County, 1,431; {+2}; 20
• Montgomery, 944; {+6}; 34
• Pottawattamie County, 9,485; {+20}; 136
• Shelby County, 1,116; {+4}; 32
• Union County,  1,157; {+0}; 31