DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa state health officials reported another jump in confirmed cases of coronavirus, as well as another death, to kick off the week as the state continues to see a rise in hospitalizations from the virus.
The state health department’s virus tracking site showed 343 cases and one death had been confirmed in the 24-hour period from Sunday to 10 a.m. Monday. The state’s total deaths since the beginning of the outbreak stood at 793 Monday, while the total number of cases reached 38,907.
As of Monday morning, 221 people were hospitalized for the virus - a number that has been slowly increasing over the last few weeks after the state hit a low of 118 hospitalized on June 27 from its peak of 417 on May 6.
Despite the increases in hospitalizations, Iowa hospitals remained in reasonably good shape to take on new patients, according to the website, which showed 44% of the state’s hospital beds available Monday. That included 498 intensive care unit beds. The site also showed 81% of the state’s ventilators still available Monday.
The increasing number of cases prompted hospitals in the Des Moines area to stop allowing most visitors, a change in policy after easing rules in June. As of Tuesday, people won’t be allowed to see patients at Broadlawns hospital in Des Moines or MercyOne and UnityPoint hospitals in Des Moines and West Des Moines.
Some exceptions will be made if a patient is imminently dying, in some emergency room situations, to help patients suffering from confusion and for women in maternity services.
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