The Iowa Department of Public Health is reporting six new deaths related to COVID-19 in Marshall County this week.

Last week was the first in nearly two months when the county did not record a new COVID death, and a total of 91 deaths have been reported in Marshall County since the start of the pandemic.

Across Iowa, 4,069 people have died with COVID-19, including 104 in the last week. Of those who have died, 92 percent of those had pre-existing conditions, and 55 percent were 80 and older. Men make up 53 percent of the death toll. More than 93 percent of the victims are white, and just three percent are of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.

Iowa’s rate of positive tests rose less than one percent in the last week, while Marshall County’s rate remains at three percent. In the last seven days, 20 percent of positive tests have come from children 17 or younger — the most of any age group.

One week ago, the Food and Drug Administration approved Pfizer vaccine doses for children 5-11 years old, and U.S. health officials authorized the use of these new low-dose vaccines just this week. Iowa is expected to receive 99,000 or more of these doses this week, according to a report from Nick Coltrain of the Des Moines Register.

More than 58 percent of Marshall County residents 12 or older are fully vaccinated, including 72 percent of adults 18 or older and 93 percent of adults 65 or older. In Iowa, 3.7 million vaccine doses have been administered with 68 percent of adults and 70 percent of children 12 or older fully vaccinated.

Individuals who are not fully vaccinated account for 82 percent of COVID patients currently in intensive care and more than 74 percent of hospitalizations. There are 483 people hospitalized with COVID-19 including 75 admitted in the last 24 hours. Of people who are hospitalized with COVID, 111 are in the ICU, and 330 patients have COVID as their primary diagnosis. About 27 percent of inpatient hospital beds are available.

There are 23 active COVID outbreaks in long-term care facilities, and the IDPH.gov website no longer discloses where these outbreaks occur.

COVID-19 IN MARSHALL COUNTY

• Seven day percent of positive test rate: 3 percent

• Seven day number of cases: 46

• CDC transmission level: HIGH

• Eligible and Fully vaccinated: 58 percent

• New deaths this week: 6

• Total deaths: 91

• Seven day percent of positive test rate: 3 percent

• Seven day number of cases: 46

• CDC transmission level: HIGH

• Eligible and Fully vaccinated: 58 percent

• New deaths this week: 6

• Total deaths: 91

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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

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Contact Joe Fisher at

news@timesrepublican.com.