Iowa sees surge in COVID-19 cases, deaths, hospitalizations

Iowa continues to see steady increases in coronavirus-related hospitalizations, deaths and new cases as the state remains without a mask mandate and with businesses and schools open. 

The New York Times on Tuesday reported Iowa has seen a 26% jump in cases, a 33% rise in deaths, and a 21% increase in hospitalizations over the past two weeks. 

Iowa reported 960 new cases Monday, for a total of 117,198 since the pandemic started, according to the Times. The state has averaged 1,298 cases per day over the past week. 

COVID-related deaths totaled 1,657, with 22 added Monday, according to the Times. The state’s seven-day average was 15 deaths a day, the highest since May 26.

The state public health department reported that 90% of deaths from COVID-19 in Iowa have involved people age 61 or over.

Each day lately has brought a new record for hospitalizations. The state reported 564 people hospitalized with COVID-19 Tuesday morning, a new record and up from 561 on Monday. The number of people hospitalized in the past 24 hours stood at 78 Tuesday morning, up from 73 the day before. A total of 128 were in intensive care, down one from the day before.

While the number of intensive care beds available has fallen by 57 since Sept. 1 and stood at 400 Tuesday morning, the state has 38.5% of its regular hospital beds available. That’s up a few percentage points from a few weeks ago. However, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington predicts Iowa will run out intensive care beds by Dec. 13. 

The Times database showed cases increasing in Polk County, but at 30 cases per 100,000 people the rate is far below some hot spots in the state. The Mississippi River area counties have higher rates. Clayton County had the equivalent of 59 cases per 100,000; Dubuque County, 78; Jackson County, 77; Delaware County, 85; and Des Moines County, 67. 

Northwest Iowa also is seeing some higher rates, with Osceola County at 89 cases per 100,000; Plymouth County, 73; Woodbury County, 59; Carroll County, 91; Calhoun County, 65; Sioux County, 61; and Webster County, 55.

The state health department reported 66 current outbreaks at nursing homes. Nursing homes across the state have had 820 deaths from the virus since the pandemic started.

The state has 16 counties where the test positivity rate exceeds 15%.

A White House task force has pushed Iowa to require people wear masks in public. Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has allowed bars and other business to reopen with some restrictions, has declined to require masks.

The governor has maintained that a mandate would be unenforceable and that it is important to reopen schools and businesses for the economy and the mental health of residents.

Many businesses now require customers to wear a mask.