The Iowa Department of Public Health, as of 10-a.m. today (Saturday), said there were 103 new COVID-19 positive tests reported over the previous 24-hours, and six additional deaths. The health department reported 401,693 total positive tests, and 6,053 total deaths since the start of the pandemic, including 2,364 at Long-Term Care facilities. Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate is 2.5%. The 7-day average is down to 2.0%.

The number of Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19 remains 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 24 patients in ICU, also the lowest number reported since early April. Officials report 22 patients with COVID or its symptoms  were admitted to a hospital, and 10 patients are on ventilators. In RMCC Region 4 (hospitals in western & southwest Iowa), there are: five patients hospitalized with COVID or symptoms of the virus; one person with COVID was in an ICU; There were no new admissions or persons on a ventilator to report in Region 4.

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 seven persons who have recovered from the virus. Health department data shows over 1.34-milion people have completed a vaccine series in Iowa. There have been 2.75-million total doses administered. A reminder: 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, 1,474 cases; 54 deaths
Adair, 995; 32
Adams, 352; 4
Audubon, 536; 10
Guthrie, 1,304; 32
Harrison County, 1,930; 73
Madison County, 1,782; 19
Mills County, 1,794; 23
Montgomery, 1,113; 38
Pottawattamie County, 12,296;171
Shelby County, 1,376; 37
Union County, 1,372; 34