Des Moines, Iowa —The Iowa Department of Public Health today (Wednesday) released new data that indicated there have been 94 additional COVID-19 deaths. IDPH officials reported the 94 additional deaths happened between August 22nd and Oct. 7th. It brings the total number of deaths to 6,748 since the start of the pandemic. The number of positive tests in the last seven days continues to fall. IDPH reported 7,713 positive tests, down from 8,355 at last report on Monday. There have been 507,525 positive tests in Iowa since the start of the pandemic.

Iowa’s test positivity rate had been holding steady at 9.5% but has now dropped to 9.2%. Of those testing positive for the virus, 22% are under the age of 18. The next largest group are those between the ages of 30 and 39, at 18%. While positive test results are falling, hospitalizations are back up. IDPH reported 598 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Iowa, up from 566 at last report on Monday.

The health department reports 3,551,153 vaccine doses administered in Iowa. That means 66.8% of Iowans 18 and older are fully vaccinated, while 69.2% of all Iowans 12 and up have had at least one dose. IDPH reports 29 long-term care facility outbreaks, down from 30 on Monday.

The Iowa Department of Public Health releases COVID-19 data each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.