For the first time in nearly two months, Marshall County did not report a new death related to COVID-19 in the last week.

The virus has been tied to 85 deaths in the county, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. Across the state, 6,965 people have died with COVID infections. More than 55 percent of those who have died were 80 or older, and 92 percent had pre-existing conditions.

In the last 7 days, 6,340 people have tested positive for COVID. The total number since the start of the pandemic is 522,421. Iowa’s positivity rate is eight percent, which is the same as last week. Marshall County’s rate has increased from three to four percent in the last week.

Thirty long term care facilities are currently in outbreak status, the most at any time over the last two months.

Hospitalizations remain high in Iowa, with 531 patients hospitalized currently (129 are in intensive care) and 76 admitted in the last 24 hours. Sixty-nine percent of COVID patients list COVID as their primary diagnosis.

People who are not fully vaccinated account for 81 percent of ICU patients and more than 65 percent of patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

More than 67 percent of Iowans 18 or older are fully vaccinated, with more than 3.6 million doses administered. For children 12 and older, more than 70 percent have received at least one dose. Marshall County’s adult vaccination rate is over 72 percent, and about 69 percent of children ages 12 and up have received one dose. Adults 65 and older are far and away the most vaccinated age group with a 98 percent rate in Marshall County.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new recommendations for COVID vaccine booster shots. In addition to the previously recommended boosters for Pfizer recipients, people who have received their full round of vaccination with the Moderna or Johnson and Johnson shots are now eligible and recommended to receive a booster shot if they meet certain criteria.

Those who are between 18 and 49 years old with underlying medical conditions or between 18 and 64 years old and at an increased risk of COVID exposure because of occupation or living in an institutional setting are considered eligible. The booster is recommended six months after completing the original one or two shot series.

Available data from the CDC reports that the Pfizer vaccine is 95 percent effective. Moderna is about 94 percent effective, and the Johnson and Johnson one-shot vaccine was about 66 percent effective in clinical trials.

The CDC recommends any brand of booster regardless of the original vaccine dose. For example, an individual who received two doses of the Moderna vaccine could elect to take a Pfizer booster, which is readily available in Marshall County.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

For questions about booster shot eligibility or any information about COVID-19 vaccines, please contact Marshall County Public Health Director Pat Thompson at pthompson@marshallcountyia.gov or call 641-844-2799.

COVID-19 IN MARSHALL COUNTY

• Seven day percent of positive test rate: 4 percent

• Seven day number of cases: 60

• CDC transmission level: HIGH

• Fully vaccinated: 72 percent

• New deaths this week: 0

• Total deaths: 85

Contact Joe Fisher at news@timesrepublican.com.