(Updated 10-a.m.) The Iowa Department of Public Health today (Thursday), reports 649 additional COVID-19 cases since 10-a.m., Wednesday, for a total of 47,141, and 13 additional deaths, for a total of 906. Officials say outbreaks at long-term care facilities account for 486 of the state’s total deaths. The IDPH says 35,469 Iowans have recovered from the virus. A total of 505,050 residents have been tested for COVID-19, with 455,262 of those having tested negative. The IDPH Coronavirus database now shows a 14-day rolling average of positive Covid-19 cases in every school district. Once the so-called positivity rate reaches 15 percent AND at least 10 percent of students are absent, district officials may seek state permission to send all students home and shift to online instruction only for 14 days.

IDPH data shows the number of hospitalizations from COVID-19 continue to decline, with 11 fewer being reported today, for a total of 237. Nine less patients are in an ICU, for a total of 68. There are currently 32 patients on ventilators in Iowa (compared to 34 on Wednesday), and there were 28 people were admitted to a hospital as compared to 44 yesterday.  Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa report: 13 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 (2 more than Wednesday); six are in an ICU; three were admitted since 10-a.m. Wednesday, and there continued to be no one on a ventilator. There are currently 25 outbreaks in Iowa’s long-term care facilities. IDPH reports 840 positive cases within those facilities and 441 recoveries.

The IDPH Dashboard current County/Positive Case count/reported recoveries (   ), and the number of deaths to date (if any)  {    }:

• Cass: 49 [1 more than one Wednesday] (36) [1 more recovered]  {1}
• Adair: 23 [2 more cases] (17)
• Adams: 16 (10)
• Audubon: 28 (15) {1}
• Guthrie: 129 [2 more than Wednesday] (92) [7 more recovered] {5}
• Montgomery: 51 [6 more than Wed.]  (33) {4} [ 1 more death reported]
• Pottawattamie: 1,265 (882) {25} [2 more deaths]
• Shelby: 177 [4 more than on Wed.] (139) {1}