The Iowa Department of Public health, Saturday, said there were 311 new COVID-19 positive tests, and three additional deaths, including one in Union County, where the pandemic total is 33. The total number of COVID-related deaths statewide is 5,983. The health department reports 397,443 total positive tests since the start of the pandemic. The state’s positivity rates continue to decline, with the 14-day rate 3.7%, and the seven-day rate at 3.5%.

COVID hospitalizations across slowly declining. As of Saturday, there were 176 hospitalized, 39 persons in an ICU, 27 people were admitted, and 16 were on a ventilator. In RMCC Region 4 (hospitals in western/southwest Iowa), there are 12 COVID patients hospitalized; five are in an ICU; two people were admitted, and one person is on a ventilator.

There have been more than 2.46-million doses of a COVID vaccine administered in Iowa, with 1.16-million persons having completed their respective vaccination series.

The state reports one Long-Term Care Facility Outbreaks, which is one less than what was reported on Friday. The Urbandale Health Care Center has 19 positive cases among residents and staff,  with 17 total recoveries. The state reports 2,324 care facility deaths since the pandemic began.

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, 1,461 cases; {+1}; 54 deaths
Adair, 983; {+1}; 32
Adams, 350 {+1}; 4
Audubon, 526 {+0}; 10
Guthrie, 1,290 {+0}; 29
Harrison County, 1,923; {+1}; 73
Madison County, 1,752; {+6; 19
Mills County, 1,784; {+3}; 22
Montgomery, 1,111;{+5}; 38
Pottawattamie County, 12,178; {+17}; 168
Shelby County, 1,364 {+0}; 37
Union County, 1,362; {+0}; 33