(Updated) The Iowa Department of Public health, Wednesday, said there were 440 new COVID-19 positive tests over the past 24-hours, for a total of 398,496, and four additional deaths, including one in Guthrie County, where the total is 30. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 5,989 deaths in Iowa, that were attributed to COVID-19. The state’s positivity rates are down to3.7% for the 14-day rate, and 3.4% for the seven-day rate. There have been over 2.5-million doses of a COVID vaccine administered in Iowa, and more than 1.2-million persons who have completed their respective vaccination series. The state reports there are now two Long-Term Care Facility Outbreaks. The latest addition is the Risen Son Christian Village in Pottawattamie County, where there are eight positive cases and six residents/staff recoveries.

The IDPH says RSCV has had six positive cases in the past 14-days. The Urbandale Health Care Center is the other outbreak facility, with 19 positive cases among residents and staff,  with 17 total recoveries. The state reports 2,329 care facility deaths since the pandemic began.

COVID hospitalization data show a decline in the most stats: There are 159 hospitalized, 36 persons in an ICU, 33 people were admitted (up from 21 on Tuesday), and 17 people were on a ventilator. In RMCC Region 4 (hospitals in western/southwest Iowa), there are 10 COVID patients hospitalized; three are in an ICU; one person was admitted, and there once again no one was on a ventilator.

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, 1,464 cases; {+1}; 54 deaths
Adair, 985; {+1}; 32
Adams, 351 {+2}; 4
Audubon, 530 {+3}; 10
Guthrie, 1,296 {+4}; 30
Harrison County, 1,928; {+0}; 73
Madison County, 1,758; {+2; 19
Mills County, 1,786; {+2}; 22
Montgomery, 1,113;{+2}; 38
Pottawattamie County, 12,219; {+16}; 168
Shelby County, 1,367 {+0}; 37
Union County, 1,363; {+2}; 33