Iowa COVID-19 Deaths Soar
Iowa's COVID-19 related deaths took their biggest jump ever on Sunday, as data released showed that 250 more Iowans died from the virus. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that Iowa's total of coronavirus fatalities stands at 4,901.
The Gazette reports that the data released on Sunday does not show over what length of time the new deaths were reported, but the Associated Press reports that the deaths include many from December and January. But the new addition by itself is more than the total number of COVID related deaths recorded in Iowa in six of the last 10 months.
The Gazette reports that the data shows just how deadly the virus has become in recent months. More than half of the 4,901 deaths in Iowa since the first death was reported here on March 24th, 2020, were reported in December and January alone. The deaths announced on Sunday were attributed to 75 of Iowa's 99 counties. There were nine new reported deaths in Linn County, bringing the total up to 293.
The state of Iowa reported 753 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, according to the Gazette. But data shows that is based on just 2,874 tests. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says that the state should be testing at least 5,000 Iowans per day. But many have simply stopped going.
Hospitalizations have continued their drop across the state. They were down to 358 the past 24 hours, the lowest number since late September of 2020.