757 New Cases Of COVID-19 Reported In Iowa On Saturday
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Public Health Saturday identified 757 new cases of COVID-19 across Iowa, bringing the state’s total to 8,641 since the start of the pandemic, Nearly 500 of the cases reported Saturday came from four counties. Black Hawk, Dallas, Polk and Woodbury Counties are seeing a significant rise in cases, largely due to the spread of the virus in large factories.
87% of the new cases Saturday are in the 22 counties where restrictions remain in place. Governor Reynolds lifted many restrictions in 77 Iowa Counties she deemed to have low activity of coronavirus.
Five additional deaths were also reported, bringing the death toll in Iowa to 175. Outbreaks of COVID-19 are now reported in 26 long-term care centers in Iowa. 26 new patients were admitted to ICU units in the state, bringing the hospitalization count right now to 353. 90 of those patients are currently on ventilators.
According to IDPH the additional 5 deaths were reported in the following counties:
Linn County, 2 older adults (61-80 years)
Polk County , 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Tama County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
Woodbury County, 1 older adult (61-80 years)
TestIowa.com Is Questioned For Its Accuracy
(Des Moines) — Governor Reynolds was asked about the validity and accuracy
of the tests provided through the TestIowa.com after a Utah doctor made the
claim the tests were not accurate enough to make solid conclusions.
TestsIowa.com was introduced to the state after the same firm started testing
in Utah. Governor Reynolds defended the tests which are conducted after
people complete an assessment on-line, and whether it is determined if the
individual may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus. Reynolds says all
testing needs to be validated through the Center for Disease Control.
Sarah Reisetter with the Iowa Department of Public Health also commented on the tests that have come under question.
The governor stated that all labs have to go through the same testing analysts.
Reynolds continued to defend the state for choosing to utilize the
assessments and testing from the Utah company.
