Coronavirus hospitalizations have reached new low levels as the state expands vaccine eligibility.

The number of people receiving COVID-19 treatment at Iowa hospitals fell further on Friday, falling below 180 hospitalizations for the first time since July.

According to data from the Iowa Public Health Service, 176 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 at 11:00 am on Friday, the lowest number since 177 on July 13.

The number of patients using ventilators also fell to a new low in the 24-hour period from 11:00 am Thursday to 11:00 am Friday, and the hospital provided equipment to help nine patients breathe. I am reporting that I need it. This is the lowest number reported since the state began releasing such data on March 31st.

The number of patients being treated in Iowa’s intensive care unit was stable at 39.

New case

Iowa reported 513 new COVID-19 cases and 35 new confirmed deaths on Friday.

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, the new numbers bring the total number of virus cases in the state to 338,670 and the death toll to 5,549 since March last year.

New cases were identified in 3,673 tests over a 24-hour period.

The average 7-day new case in Iowa is 466, with a 7-day positive rate of 3.8% in the state.

The new addition included 76 new cases among adolescents under the age of 17, bringing the total number of adolescents who tested positive for COVID-19 to 38,356. One new case was reported among education workers, for a total of 7,726.

Locally, Linn County reported 11 new cases, bringing the total number of viral cases to 19,486. The county’s 7-day average is 19.

Johnson County added six new cases on Friday for a total of 13,138. The county’s 7-day average is 14, the lowest 7-day average the county has seen since August.

Confirmed death

Thirteen newly confirmed deaths reported on Friday occurred between January 17th and March 1st.

Of these deaths, four were individuals over the age of 80. Eight were 61 to 80 years old. One was 41 to 60.

Linn and Wapello counties each reported two deaths.

The counties that reported the deaths of one each were Dallas, Harrison, Howard, Jackson, Louisa, Marion, Pork, Scott, and Worth.

vaccination

As of 12:30 pm on Friday, Iowa has received 822,458 COVID-19 vaccines and 793,037 have been given to Iowa residents.

Throughout the state, 343,928 people have been vaccinated once in a two-dose series and 239,265 have been fully vaccinated.

In Linn County, 61,420 doses were given and 19,617 people (11.25 percent of the county’s adult population) were vaccinated with the two-shot vaccine.

In Johnson County, 53,234 vaccinations were given and 18,248 people (15% of the adult population) were vaccinated.

Expansion of qualifications

From March 8th Iowa under 65 If you have an underlying condition that increases your risk of serious illness from the coronavirus, you are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Iowa Public Health Service announced in a news release late Thursday that the decision was made after some counties reported that the distribution of the virus to other priority populations was nearly complete.

According to the CDC websitePeople with these conditions are at increased risk of serious illness due to coronavirus: cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD (chronic obese pulmonary disease), down syndrome, heart failure, coronary artery disease, or myocardial disease. Heart disease, immune defense (weakened immune system) solid organ transplantation, obesity (body mass index 30 or more and less than 40), severe obesity (BMI 40 or more), pregnancy, sickle arterial disease, smoking, type 2 Diabetes mellitus.

The former priority group Iowan, now available for COVID vaccination, is health care workers, caregiver residents and staff, people over the age of 65, kindergarten to high school teachers and staff, childcare staff, and essential labor. Is a person. ..

Appointment help

Beginning March 9, Iowa’s 211 call center will be able to assist Iowa 65+ in need of assistance in scheduling vaccine reservations.

Locally Eastern Iowa Health Center Earlier this week, people over the age of 65 created a dedicated phone line to call and schedule coronavirus vaccine reservations.

Anyone 65 years of age or older You can call to schedule a vaccine appointment, officials said. Reservations will be available for a limited time until next week.

To make an appointment, call (319) 730-7300 and press option 6. Leave a message if the line is busy or the call is unanswered. Authorities said they would return the call as soon as possible.

For those who receive the first dose, follow-up shots will be scheduled soon.

nursing home

As of Friday, 11 long-term care facilities in Iowa had COVID-19 outbreaks.

Within these facilities, 172 people were positive for the virus.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 2,191 people have died of COVID-19 in the care facility.

Comments: (319) 398-8238; [email protected]

Katie Brumbeloe contributed.