Iowa reached a grim COVID-19 milestone on Saturday, May 15, 2021, with 6,000 deaths reported since the pandemic began. Of those, 2,335 deaths are tied to outbreaks at Iowa long-term care facilities. As of May 15, just one nursing home reported an outbreak: Risen Son Christian Village in Council Bluffs, in western Iowa, which reported […]
You are browsing archives for
Category: health
COVID-19 variant first detected in India...
Public health officials announced Tuesday, May 4, 2021, that a new COVID-19 variant has been confirmed in Iowa. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, two cases of the COVID-19 variant, SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617, were confirmed in adults in Jefferson County, in southeastern Iowa. The variant is referred to as the “India variant” because it […]
One year later: Iowa’s COVID-19 death to
On March 24, 2020, Iowa officials announced the state’s first death due to COVID-19. One year later, 5,683 Iowans have died, with more than one-third of those — 2,224 — related to COVID-19 outbreaks at nursing homes. The first Iowan to die of the virus was a Dubuque County resident between the ages of 61 […]
Gov. Reynolds opens vaccine to all Iowan...
UPDATE March 18, 2021: Iowa reported no nursing home outbreaks as of March 18, the first time since COVID-19 outbreaks were initially reported in the state in March 2020. Two additional deaths connected to nursing home outbreaks were reported, bringing the total to 2,224. Iowa’s total death toll increased to 5,666. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds […]
Iowa seniors await help for COVID-19 vac...
UPDATE March 8, 2021: Linn County Public Health detailed its changes to COVID-19 vaccine allocation and distribution strategies, effective March 14, 2021. Find more from Linn County Public Health, at end. Jeanne White remembers the smallpox scars that left the mark of the oftentimes deadly disease on her grandfather for much of his life. “Half […]
Iowa anticipates arrival of newly author...
(UPDATE March 1, 2021: Iowa will hit a milestone this week, with the Iowa Department of Public Health reporting the state will receive more than 100,000 vaccine doses: 27,830 through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Partnership and 91,100 in its regular state allocation, including 25,600 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. See the full announcement, […]
Family’s pet dog is first animal to test
A Cedar Rapids family’s pet boxer has become the first non-human case of COVID-19 in Iowa. Steve Shriver said their 3 1/2-year-old dog, Eden, is recuperating as of Feb. 4, 2021, after being treated with antibiotics. “She is almost fully recovered,” Shriver said, noting that his family has already recovered from COVID-19. “The dog still […]
State bypasses schools’ request; excess
Leftover COVID-19 vaccine will go to Walgreens and CVS stores for distribution in select Iowa counties, rather than to educators, as several Iowa school districts had requested. A one-time allotment of 64,000 doses, remaining from the Long-Term Care Pharmacy Partnership program, will be available for Iowans ages 65 and up, beginning Feb. 3, 2021. Visit […]
Coronavirus deaths jump in Iowa to highe...
Iowa is nearing 5,000 deaths from COVID-19 and has surpassed its previous single-day coronavirus death toll record, with 250 deaths reported on Jan. 31, 2021. Because of the method the state uses to track deaths, not all of the patients died within 24 hours, but the number reflects the highest reported in a single day. […]
Vaccine available, but “don’t call us, w
UPDATE Jan. 27, 2021: The state hit another grim milestone, with a total of 4,500 Iowans reported having died of coronavirus since March 2020. Linn County Public Health announced that residents age 65 and older can receive COVID-19 vaccine beginning today, Jan. 26, 2021. Iowa’s vaccine rollout for Phase 1B, which includes Iowans age 65 […]