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COVID-19

Iowa ends 2020 with 3,891 deaths from COVID-19

DES MOINES — Iowa will report 3,891 coronavirus related deaths on the final day of 2020, ending the year with the 15th highest death count per capita in the United States although with a lag time of reporting deaths of up to two weeks, it’s likely not all have been accounted for by Thursday. The state reported an additional 69 deaths on Thursday ending December with a staggering one-month total of 1,382 reported deaths, about 35% of the entire year’s total and twice the number reported in November. The high number is likely reflective of the escalation of virus transmission in ...

IVH to receive COVID vaccines on Jan. 12

Staff and residents of Iowa Veterans Home will begin to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 12 — in an effort called Operation COVID Freedom. Commandant Timon Oujiri said IVH has partnered with Walgreens to distribute the vaccinations. “We have been speaking with residents and ...

Two COVID-19 deaths reported in county

Two more COVID-19 related deaths were reported in Marshall County this week by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Fifty-five people have died in the county since the start of the pandemic. There have been 3,993 cases. Iowa has recorded 278,959 cases and 3,822 deaths total. Ninety-two percent of those who have died had known preexisting conditions but only 315 had a disease or condition contributing to the death. USAfacts.org reports one new death in Iowa on Dec. 27, which is the most recent date reported as of the print deadline for this story. There were 620 new cases of ...

Marshalltown businesses get more than $2.5 million in loans

Early in December, the United States Small Business Administration released all Payment Protection Program (PPP) loan data for loans less than $150,000. A total of $949,517.25 went to 277 Marshalltown employers in loans less than $150,000, while a total of $1,574,792.81 in funds went to 37 Marshalltown employers in loans more than $150,000. Funds from PPP loans have helped businesses keep their employees on payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Small Business Administration will forgive loans if business’s meet employee retention criteria and funds are correctly used for ...

Trump’s $2K checks stalled in Senate, GOP blocks vote

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s push for bigger $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks stalled out Tuesday in the Senate as Republicans blocked a swift vote proposed by Democrats and split within their own ranks over whether to boost spending or defy the White House. The roadblock mounted ...

Virus vaccinations offer hope to Iowa nursing homes

DES MOINES — Coronavirus vaccinations began this week in Iowa’s nursing homes and officials said Tuesday that, although it will take weeks to complete, the vaccination drive gives hope to the isolated residents that they can resume contact with their families. Three pharmacy companies signed contracts with the government to go into nursing homes and give the vaccines to residents and staff. They began Monday. In Iowa, there are about 31,000 residents and 37,000 staff members in 445 nursing homes and 258 assisted living facilities, said Brent Willett, CEO of the Iowa Health Care ...