The Iowa Department of Public Heath, Thursday, at 10-a.m., reported an additional 690 positive COVID-19 test results returned from the labs since Wednesday, for a pandemic total of 361,764. There were 23 additional deaths reported, for a total of 5,438. There was one additional death in Pottawattamie County, for a pandemic total of 141.

Health officials say Underlying Causes deaths amount to 4,881. The IDPH says 557 deaths listed COVID as a contributing factor, while Long-Term Care (LTC) facility deaths accounted for 2,155  of the total number of deaths. Long-Term Care facility COVID-Outbreaks are down to 18 from Wednesday’s count of 20. Positive cases at LTC’s account for 460 of the total number of positive results, while 301 patients/staff at those facilities have recovered from COVID.

Hospitalizations are down. The IDPH said on Wednesday, there were 233 persons hospitalized with COVID. Thursday’s report shows 227 hospitalizations. COVID patients in an ICU are down slightly, to 55. There were 44 COVID patients admitted to hospitals across the State (compared to 52, Wednesday), and there are 2 patients on a ventilator. Hospitals in Western & Southwest Iowa report: 11 people are hospitalized (3 less than reported on Wed.); six COVID patients are in an ICU, there were NO admissions for COVID, and for the second day, no one was on a ventilator.

Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate as of Wednesday is 4.2%, while the 7-day average is 4.1%. Both are up slightly from Wednesday’s report.

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, 1,323 cases; {+2}; 48 deaths
• Adair, 916; {+5}; 26
• Adams, 326 {+1}; 4
• Audubon, 483 {+1}; 9
• Guthrie, 1,160 {+0}; 28
• Harrison County, 1,787; {+0}; 69
• Madison County, 1,536; {+5}; 18
• Mills County, 1,623; {+4}; 20
• Montgomery, 1,038; {+2}; 36
• Pottawattamie County, 10,714; {+36}; 141
• Shelby County, 1,200; {+3}; 33
• Union County,  1,260; {+1}; 31

AMES, Iowa – February 25, 2021 – The Iowa Department of Transportation is requesting public input for the proposed replacement of the Iowa 92 bridge over Sevenmile Creek southwest of Lyman, in Cass County. The project includes replacing the existing 150’ x 26’ I-beam bridge with a three span, 204’ x 40’ bridge. New bridge approaches will be constructed along with paved shoulders and new guardrails. Construction of the project is anticipated to begin in Spring of 2023.

Through traffic on Iowa 92 would be detoured during construction using Iowa 48, Cass County Road M-56, Cass County Road G-43, and U.S. 71. It is anticipated that the detour would be in place for approximately 130 days. (For more information, see the website below.)

For general information regarding the proposed improvements please view the information online at www.iowadot.gov/pim or contact Scott Suhr, transportation planner, Iowa DOT District 4 Office, 2210 E. Seventh Street, Atlantic, Iowa 50022, phone 712-249-4015 or 800-289-4368, email: scott.suhr@iowadot.us. If you do not have access to the internet, or need assistance viewing the materials, please feel free to contact Scott regarding this project.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office, Thursday (Today), reported on a single-vehicle, personal injury accident that took place at around 12:34-p.m., Monday. Authorities say the accident happened in the 3200 block of 305^th Street, or about 3.5 miles east of Braddyville. An investigation determined 36-year old Emily Christine Garcia, of Clarinda, was driving a 2001 Nissan XTR eastbound, when the vehicle went out of control on the soft gravel road. When Garcia tried to regain control of the SUV, the vehicle swerved and entered the north ditch, where it struck the bank and became stuck. Garcia – who was the only occupant of the vehicle- suffered possible/undisclosed injuries, and was transported to the Clarinda Regional Hospital by Clarinda Ambulance service.

Damage to her vehicle was estimated at $500. No citations were issued. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Clarinda Ambulance service, Braddyville Fire & Rescue, and the Clarinda Fire Department. Page County EMA also assisted at the scene.

(Radio Iowa) – A mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic was held at the Tyson Events Center in downtown Sioux City on Wednesday. Officials say around 15-hundred people received their first dose of the vaccine. Siouxland District Health Department spokesman Tyler Brock says vaccine demand is still high and a mass clinic can help meet that demand — a little. “We know it’s not enough,” Brock says. “We know there’s more people out there still that want vaccine and haven’t been able to get it, but we also are starting to see more and more people actually cancel their appointments because they’re getting vaccine somewhere else.”

The clinic was only for people in Woodbury County who are 65 and older, teachers and others who are eligible. Sixty-five-year-old Gloria Anderson got her vaccine and says she’s a little uneasy about possible side effects from it. “But I think that getting it is better than the risk of not getting it,” Anderson says.

When the event was announced last week, the phone bank got seven-thousand calls from people trying to make appointments for 15-hundred slots. This was the fourth mass clinic at the Tyson in Sioux City. The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics has also been holding large-scale vaccination events in Iowa City.