(Des Moines) – Iowa’s COVID-19 positivity rates and hospitalizations are on the decline once again. The Iowa Department of Public Health on Friday reported 491 new positive COVID-19 cases and five additional deaths. At 10 a.m., IDPH reported 391,616 total positive tests, 343,617 total recoveries and 5,904 total deaths since the start of the pandemic. IDPH reported 391,125 total positive tests and 5,899 total deaths 24 hours earlier. In the KJAN listening area, there were two more COVID-related deaths in Pottawattamie County, for a pandemic total of 164.

State data shows 2,141,871 vaccine doses have been administered in Iowa, with 930,565 individuals completing the series. Iowa’s positivity rates are continuing to decline slowly. The 7-day average declined from 4.3% to 4% and the 14-day average declined from 4.4% to 4.2%. Virus hospitalizations are back down after showing an increase the previous day. There are now 217 Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19, down from 235 a day earlier. There are 51 patients in ICU and 24 patients on ventilators.

In RMCC Regional 4 (hospitals in western/southwest Iowa): 29 COVID patients are hospitalized (down from 31 the previous day); 10 are in an ICU (down 1 from Thursday); 3 were admitted with symptoms of the virus, and there remain four persons on a ventilator.

Urbandale Health Care Center is the only long-term care facility in the state reporting a virus outbreak There are 18 positive cases and eight recoveries among residents and staff within that facility. Iowa reports 2,309 total COVID-19 deaths in care facilities.

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, 1,436 cases; {+1}; 54 deaths
Adair, 970; {+2}; 32
Adams, 342 {+1}; 4
Audubon, 513 {+0}; 9
Guthrie, 1,266 {+0}; 29
Harrison County, 1,904; {+8}; 73
Madison County, 1,699; {+7; 19
Mills County, 1,759; {+3}; 20
Montgomery, 1,095 {+2}; 37
Pottawattamie County, 11,924; {+25}; 162
Shelby County, 1,349 {+0}; 37
Union County, 1,315; {+0}; 32