Hunter
11/13/20
The coronavirus pandemic is reaching a critical stage, as 14-day rolling average positivity rates continue to rise at a steep climb, and hospitals are being pushed to the brink.
The Iowa Covid 19 Tracker website reports Linn County shows a 14-day rolling average positivity of 40.69 percent, up from 28.55 percent a week ago. The 24-hour positivity rate on Thursday was 47.95 percent.
In Johnson County, the 14-day rolling average jumped from 22.24% a week ago to 32.64% as of yesterday. Yesterday, the 24-hour positivity rate was 32.93 percent.
ICU beds in eastern Iowa are at a premium. State representative Joe Bolkcom posted a tweet last night saying that at a special COVID meeting of Johnson County city, county, and school leaders, it was announced that 15 of 17 hospitals in the area have no ICU beds available. Calling out the lack of a statewide mask mandate from Governor Kim Reynolds’ administration, Bolkcom added, “You are on your own, people. Mask Up!”
Mercy Medical Center and UnityPoint St. Luke’s Hospital jointly announced that they’re reducing surgical cases that require a hospital stay through November 20th, and will not schedule elective procedures that require an overnight stay until after the 20th.
Statewide, there were 4337 new cases reported, the sixth straight day of 4000-plus new cases. 30 deaths were also reported, the second highest one-day total since the pandemic began. A record 1208 people are in hospitals being treated for COVID.
All states are seeing increases in cases, and there have been reports of staffing issues and lack of PPE equipment.
