DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa public health officials posted another 99 coronavirus related deaths on Thursday, raising the state’s death toll to 3,120.
The state this week modified the methodology for counting COVID-19 deaths and that added 399 deaths to the state total in the past three days.
Iowa coronavirus positive cases increased by 2,246 pushing the state total to 251,028.
Hospitalizations and admissions were lower Thursday with 863 people hospitalized with COVID-19.
Hospitalizations and new positive cases have been trending lower, giving health care officials hope that Iowa may not see the spike in virus activity after Thanksgiving that was anticipated.
“I still think we’re not out of the danger zone. We’re still facing a winter season that’s going to keep people indoors,” said University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics CEO Suresh Gunasekaran. “There’s going to be an opportunity with another holiday season right around us to be vulnerable for this.”
Vaccinations of front-line health care workers and nursing home residents and employees may begin next week but the White House Coronavirus Task Force warns against complacency about mask wearing, distancing and hand washing.
“The current vaccine implementation will not substantially reduce viral spread, hospitalizations, or fatalities until the 100 million Americans with comorbidities can be fully immunized, which will take until the late spring,” the report for Iowa released Dec. 6 said.
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