The Iowa Department of Public Health, Saturday, said there were 647 new positive cases of COVID-19 test results returned from the labs over the past 24-hours, for a pandemic total of 328,640 positive cases. There were 53 additional deaths reported, for a total of 5,276. Statewide, 4,726 COVID deaths are attributed to Underlying causes. COVID was a contributing factor to 510 deaths. Deaths at Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities account for 2,131 deaths. There was one more death reported in Cass County, for a total of 47 (see more data below).

Long-Term Care facility outbreaks went down from 37 Friday to 36 on Saturday. Officials say 977 LTC patients have tested positive for the virus, and 650 have recovered.

The State data show 225 people are hospitalized with COVID-19. Officials say 55 patients are in an ICU, 37 were admitted over the previous 24-hours, and 33 patients are on ventilators. In RMCC Region 4 (Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa), 14 are hospitalized with COVID symptoms, five people are in an ICU, two admitted over the past 24-hours, and two people were on a ventilator.

Iowa’s statewide positivity rate Saturday was 8.1%. The 7-day average was 6.1%.

A total of 301,174 Iowans have recovered from the virus.

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, 1,228 cases; {+2}; 47 deaths
• Adair, 761; {+3}; 25
• Adams, 316 {+1}; 3
• Audubon, 452 {+2}; 9
• Guthrie, 1,069 {+1}; 28
• Harrison County, 1,645; {+2}; 68
• Madison County, 1,359; {+6}; 16
• Mills County, 1,454; {+2}; 20
• Montgomery, 953; {+1}; 36
• Pottawattamie County, 9,587; {+36}; 139
• Shelby County, 1,123; {+2}; 32
• Union County,  1,166; {+0}; 31

(In an update to our report Friday morning) A home in Bridgewater was consumed by fire, Friday.

According to Fire Chief Daryl Christensen, a neighbor saw flames coming from 301 Main Street a little after 7-a.m., Friday. Smoke was pouring from the house by the time firefighters arrived, and flames were coming from the overhangs. Mutual aid was requested from and provided by, the Massena Volunteer Fire Department.

No one was home when the fire broke out, and none of the firefighters were hurt. The incident apparently began in the basement, but the cause had not yet been determined as of the latest report.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Webster County in north-central Iowa is looking to promote green energy by setting up an array of solar panels large enough to power 30,000 homes. The Messenger reports that the panels will be set up on more than 950 acres about three miles southeast of Badger in the northeastern part of the county.

Energy collected from the panels be fed into a nearby substation of MidAmerican Energy to go into the transmission grid. Webster County Planning and Zoning Administrator Jeff Johnson says construction is expected to begin in the spring and be done by next winter.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A 63-year-old Davenport man is facing charges in a fatal hit-and-run in January. Mark Lance Blackwood was booked into the Scott County Jail Friday on possible charges of homicide by vehicle/reckless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. Both are felonies.

Affidavits in the case say Blackwood hit 60-year-old Eric Johnson, of Rock Island, Illinois, on Jan. 18. Police say Johnson was carried on the car about 140 feet before falling and being dragged by the car for nearly 3,000 feet. Police located the vehicle the next day outside Blackwood’s home.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest Friday night of a Red Oak man in the 600 block of N 5th Street in Red Oak. At 11:08 p.m. Officers arrested 64-year-old James Kent Otte of Red Oak for Operating While Intoxicated 3rd or Subsequent Offense. Otte was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $5,000 bond.