(Updated) The Iowa Department of Public Health, today (Thursday), said there were 128 new COVID-19 positive tests reported since 10-a.m. Wednesday, and five additional deaths. The latest numbers include one additional death in each of Guthrie and Pottawattamie Counties, where the pandemic total is 32 and 171, respectively. The health department reported 401,432 total positive tests, and 6,044 total deaths since the start of the pandemic, including 2,364 at Long-Term Care facilities. Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate is 2.7%. The 7-day average is down to 2.4%.

There are 120 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Iowa reports 31 patients in ICU, 23 COVID patients were admitted, and 16 patients are on ventilators. In RMCC Region 4 (hospitals in western & southwest Iowa), there are: seven patients hospitalized with COVID or symptoms of the virus; three people with COVID are in an ICU; There was one person admitted, and no one on a ventilator.

There remain three long-term care facilities that are reporting active COVID-19 outbreaks. The latest is a facility in Cerro Gordo County. The other two facilities (as previously reported) are in Pottawattamie and Wright Counties. Health officials say there are a total of 22 positive cases among patients/staff at the three facilities, and four persons who have recovered from the virus.

In the immediate KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County (since the beginning of the pandemic) and the total number of deaths (Since the beginning of the pandemic) in each county to date:
Cass, 1,473 cases; 54 deaths
Adair, 991; 32
Adams, 352; 4
Audubon, 537; 10
Guthrie, 1,307; 32
Harrison County, 1,931; 73
Madison County, 1,781; 19
Mills County, 1,796; 23
Montgomery, 1,112; 38
Pottawattamie County, 12,299;171
Shelby County, 1,372; 37
Union County, 1,370; 34