The Iowa Department of Public Health, as of 10-a.m. today (Friday), said there were 158 new COVID-19 positive tests reported over the previous 24-hours, and three additional deaths. The health department reported 401,590 total positive tests, and 6,047 total deaths since the start of the pandemic, including 2,364 at Long-Term Care facilities. Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate is 2.6%. The 7-day average is down to 2.2%.

The number of Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19 is at its lowest level in more than a year. IDPH reports there are 111 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. That’s the lowest number reported since early April of 2020. Iowa reports 25 patients in ICU, also the lowest number reported since early April. 19 COVID patients were admitted, and 12 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; two people with COVID are in an ICU; There were two people admitted, and once for the second day in a row, no one on a ventilator.

There remain three long-term care facilities that are reporting active COVID-19 outbreaks, with a total of 22 positive cases among patients/staff at the those facilities, and six persons who have recovered from the virus. Health department data shows 1,342,686 people have completed a vaccine series in Iowa. There have been 2,743,101 total doses administered. The five state-operated Test Iowa drive-thru sites and the State Hygienic Lab will be closed on Monday, May 31, for the Memorial Day holiday.

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, 353; 4
Audubon, 537; 10
Guthrie, 1,307; 32
Harrison County, 1,932; 73
Madison County, 1,781; 19
Mills County, 1,795; 23
Montgomery, 1,113; 38
Pottawattamie County, 12,299;171
Shelby County, 1,372; 37
Union County, 1,371; 34