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State lab can detect omicron variant

The latest significant coronavirus variant — dubbed “omicron” by the World Health Organization on Friday — has several troubling mutations that might boost its ability to spread, but the changes also make it more quickly detectable by the State Hygienic Laboratory, which processes the ...

Biden vaccine rule for health workers blocked in 10 states

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A federal judge on Monday blocked President Joe Biden’s administration from enforcing a coronavirus vaccine mandate on thousands of health care workers in 10 states that had brought the first legal challenge against the requirement. The court order said that the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid had no clear authority from Congress to enact the vaccine mandate for providers participating in the two government health care programs for the elderly, disabled and poor. The preliminary injunction by St. Louis-based U.S. District Judge Matthew Schelp ...

Weekly MCSD COVID update

New COVID-19 cases continue to remain low at the Marshalltown Community School District. As of 12 p.m. noon on Friday, six new cases had been confirmed within the district — five among students and one among staff. The next report will be issued on Dec. 3.

COVID cases down, hospitalizations up ahead of Thanksgiving

Iowa experienced a peak in COVID-19 related hospitalizations the day before Thanksgiving. The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 623 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 on Wednesday. This is the highest number since Sept. 25, when 650 people were hospitalized. There have been 109 people admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. There are 146 patients in intensive care and about 26-percent of inpatient hospital beds are available. People not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 account for more than 75-percent of hospitalizations and 85-percent of ICU cases. ...

MCSD COVID-19 update

As of 12 p.m. on Nov. 19, five cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed among Marshalltown Community School District students and/or employees in the last week — three among students and two among staff members. The next report will be shared on Nov. 26.

COVID activity up slightly in Marshall County

Marshall County is experiencing an increased rate of positive COVID-19 cases this week after several weeks with a three percent rate of positivity. The increase in virus activity is slightly up from three to four percent. In the last seven days, 43 positive cases have been found in the ...