(As of 9:25-a.m.) The Iowa Department of Public Health, today (Wednesday), reports 189 new COVID-19 positive tests and four additional deaths, after three days of no deaths reported. The latest numbers include one additional death in Union County, where the pandemic total is 34. The health department reported 401,304 total positive tests, and 6,039 total deaths since the start of the pandemic, including 2,363 at Long-Term Care facilities. Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate is unchanged, at 2.8%. The 7-day average is down from 2.7% over the past few days, to 2.5% as of today.

There are 120 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Iowa reports 32 patients in ICU, 24 COVID patients were admitted (six more than on Tuesday), and 17 patients are on ventilators. In RMCC Region 4 (hospitals in western & southwest Iowa), there are: Eight patients hospitalized with COVID or symptoms of the virus; four people with COVID are in an ICU; There was one persons admitted, and one person was on a ventilator.

There are now three long-term care facilities report 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, 1,472 cases; 54 deaths
Adair, 991; 32
Adams, 353; 4
Audubon, 537; 10
Guthrie, 1,306; 31
Harrison County, 1,935; 73
Madison County, 1,779; 19
Mills County, 1,795; 23
Montgomery, 1,112; 38
Pottawattamie County, 12,294;170
Shelby County, 1,370; 37
Union County, 1,370; 34