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 […]
You are browsing archives for
Category: health
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 […]
Iowa ranks near bottom in COVID-19 vacci...
Gov. Kim Reynolds said Iowa has been receiving only 19,500 doses of COVID-19 vaccine per week, ranking the state 46th nationally in allocation numbers. Reynolds made the revelation during a press conference on Jan. 21, 2021. With just over 3.1 million residents, Iowa ranks 30th or 31st in population among states, depending on the source […]
One of last Iowa counties to confirm COV...
A rural Iowa county that was second-to-last to confirm its first coronavirus case last spring now has the dismal distinction of having the state’s highest 14-day positivity average. Ringgold County, in far southern Iowa, reported a 24.9 percent average as of 10 a.m. Jan. 19, 2021, surpassing Monroe County, which held the top spot since […]
Iowa Republican lawmakers start session ...
Kelly Garcia, Iowa Department of Public Health interim director, has added government officials to the next phase of vaccination priorities, even as many Republicans showed up for the start of the 2021 legislative session without face masks this week. Because Republicans hold the majority in both the state House and Senate, they control the safety […]