Northwest Iowa — The number of positive COVID-19 test results in the four-county area during the past seven days was slightly higher than the week before, but still remarkably low.
In the four-county area of O’Brien, Osceola, Sioux and Lyon Counties, just eight positive COVID-19 test results are being reported by the Iowa Department of Public Health, up two from the positive tests reported the week before.
Sioux County reported 4 new positive results, with a positive rate of 3%. That’s an increase of 1 positive over the previous week. For the second consecutive week, Lyon County reported 2 new positive tests, with a 3% positivity rate. Osceola County broke their string of two consecutive weeks with no positive test results, reporting 1 new positive in the past 7 days, with a 2% positive rate. In O’Brien County, 1 new positive test was reported in the past seven days, with a 1% positive rate. O’Brien also reported one new positive last week.
The total number of deaths from COVID-related illness is unchanged from last week at 188. Sioux County has experienced 74 deaths, 57 O’Brien County residents have lost their lives to the pandemic, along with 41 from Lyon County and 16 from Osceola County.
As of 9:30 Monday morning, the IDPH reports 64 people hospitalized statewide for treatment of COVID-related illnesses.
Also as of 9:30 Monday morning, the IDPH reports COVID outbreaks at 4 Iowa long-term care facilities, none of which are in northwest Iowa. In Audubon County, Friendship Home Association reports 5 cases of COVID among residents and staff. Heritage Care and Rehabilitation Center in Cerro Gordo County reports 11 cases, Great River Klein Center in Des Moines County is dealing with 3 cases, and Wright County’s Clarion Wellness and Rehabilitation Center reports 6 cases, for a state-wide total of 25 COVID cases in Iowa long-term care centers.
