UNI, IS TO BLAME FOR TONIGHT’S CONFUSION. STACEY: THANK YOU. STARTING MONDAY, THE STATE WILL ALLOW PEOPLE AGE 64 AND YOUNGER WITH CERTAIN HEALTH CONDITIONS TO RECEIVE A COVID-19 VACCINE. BUT THAT WON’T HAPPEN IN POLK COUNTY. KCCI’S LAUREN JOHNSON EXPLAINS WHY IT MAY BE SOME TIME BEFORE THE COUNTY MOVES INTO THAT NEXT TIER LAUREN: THAT’S RIGHT, STACEY. POLK COUNTY IS CONTINUING TO FACE SUPPLY SHORTAGES OF VACCINE. BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, THEY LOOK LIKE THEY WILL BE MOVING IN THE NEXT TIER SOON. ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON, GOVERNOR REYNOLDS EXPLAINED WHY THE STATE WILL SOON ALLOW MORE IOWANS TO GET VACCINATED. >> BECAUSE SOME COUNTIES ARE THROUGH THE FIRST TIER, WE’VE OPENED IT UP WHEN YOU’RE THROUGH THAT FOR 64 YEARS OF AGE AND DOWN, IF YOU HAVE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS SO THEY ARE NOW ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A VACCINE AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. LAUREN: THAT WILL INCLUDE IOWANS AGE 64 AND YOUNGER WITH CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING HEART CONDITIONS, OBESITY, CANCER AND DIABETES. BUT POLK COUNTY WON’T BE MOVING INTO THAT NEXT STAGE JUST YET BECAUSE OF VACCINE SHORTAGES. AS OF FRIDAY, A LITTLE MORE THAN 66% OF THIS CURRENT TIER HAS BEEN VACCINATED. THAT NUMBER NEEDS TO BE CLOSER TO 70% FOR THEM TO MOVE ON. >> WE STILL HAVE A POPULATIO WHERE DEMAND IS MUCH GREATER THAN SUPPLY, SO WE FEEL LIKE IT’S VERY VITAL TO STAY IN THE TIERS THAT WE ARE AND MAKE SURE THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE AT LEAST GETTING ONE DOSE. LAUREN: THE CURRENT TIER INCLUDES IOWANS 65 YEARS AND OLDER, FIRST RESPONDERS, SCHOOL STAFF, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, AND LONG TERM CARE FACILITY STAFF AND RESIDENTS. POLK COUNTY SAYS IT WILL KEEP EVALUATING VACCINATION PROGRESS. WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR PROVIDERS TO VACCINATE PEOPLE IN THE NEXT CATEGORY, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS IT WILL HAVE TO TRUST PATIENTS WHEN THEY SAY THEY HAVE AN UNDERLYING CONDITION. THE HOPE IS SOMEONE WHO ISN’T ELIGIBLE FOR THIS TIER WON’T JUMP THE LINE. >> WE WOULD NEVER WANT TO DETER AN INDIVIDUAL THAT REALLY NEEDS A VACCINE, BUT WE ALSO WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SMART DECISIONS. AND IF THEY DO NOT FALL UNDER THE TIER OF AN INDIVIDUAL OF AN UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITION, WE WANT THEM TO BE HONEST AND MAKE SMART CHOICES. LAUREN: THAT’S RIGHT. THE POLK COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS THAT PEOPLE AND POLK COUNTY DECIDED TO GET THEIR VACCINES HERE, ALSO PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THEIR COUNTIES, THAT IS WHER
COVID-19 hospitalizations continue downward trend
The Iowa Department of Public health on Saturday reported 554 new COVID-19 positive tests and three additional deaths.At 10 a.m., the health department reported 366,609 total positive tests, 319,783 total recoveries and 5,552 total deaths since the start of the pandemic. That’s up from Friday when the health department reported 366,055 total positive tests and 5,549 total deaths.Iowa reports 822,458 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered and 239,265 individuals have completed vaccination. Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate is at 4%, and the 7-day average is now 3.8%. Health department data shows 1,327,322 Iowans have been tested for the virus, while 4,136,524 tests have been administered. There are now 170 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, down from 176 the previous day. Iowa reports 38 of those patients are in intensive care and ten patients are on ventilators.Ten of Iowa’s long-term care facilities report active COVID-19 outbreaks. The health department reports 141 positive cases and 62 recoveries among residents and staff within those facilities. The state reports 2,191 care facility deaths.The Iowa Department of Public Health offers virus data in real-time on this website. KCCI publishes a daily summary based on the date reported at 10 a.m.
The Iowa Department of Public health on Saturday reported 554 new COVID-19 positive tests and three additional deaths.
At 10 a.m., the health department reported 366,609 total positive tests, 319,783 total recoveries and 5,552 total deaths since the start of the pandemic. That’s up from Friday when the health department reported 366,055 total positive tests and 5,549 total deaths.
Iowa reports 822,458 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered and 239,265 individuals have completed vaccination.
Iowa’s 14-day positivity rate is at 4%, and the 7-day average is now 3.8%. Health department data shows 1,327,322 Iowans have been tested for the virus, while 4,136,524 tests have been administered.
There are now 170 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, down from 176 the previous day. Iowa reports 38 of those patients are in intensive care and ten patients are on ventilators.
Ten of Iowa’s long-term care facilities report active COVID-19 outbreaks. The health department reports 141 positive cases and 62 recoveries among residents and staff within those facilities. The state reports 2,191 care facility deaths.
The Iowa Department of Public Health offers virus data in real-time on this website. KCCI publishes a daily summary based on the date reported at 10 a.m.