The Iowa Department of Public Health, Saturday, reported 41 additional COVID-19 deaths and 555 new cases of the virus since the previous 24-hour cycle. The total number of death as of 10-a.m. Saturday amounted to 5,108 since the beginning of the pandemic, and 323,872 positive cases altogether. In western/southwest Iowa, there were four additional deaths in Pottawattamie County, two more in Montgomery County, and one each in Shelby and Union Counties (See the current totals below).

Of those who died, 4,618 had an underlying condition, while COVID was a contributing factor to 490 deaths. Long-Term Care Center (LTC) deaths account for 2,092 of the total number of deaths. LTC outbreaks are up slightly, to 44. LTC patients testing positive amount too 1,383, with 906 having recovered from the virus.

COVID-19 hospitalization data show 336 are hospitalized (compared to 348 on Friday), 67 patients in ICU, 47 were admitted, and 30 patients are on ventilators. In RMCC Region 4 (Hospitals in western/southwest Iowa),  22 are hospitalized with COVID symptoms, eight are in an ICU, five people was admitted since Friday, and three people are on a ventilator.

Iowa’s statewide positivity rate continues to decline. The 14-day positivity rate dropped from 9.1% Friday to 8.9% Saturday. The 7-day average dropped from 7.1% to 6.8%.   A total of 293,101 Iowans have recovered from the virus.

In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} – if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:

• Cass, 1,203 cases; {+1}; 46 deaths
• Adair, 720; {+2}; 25
• Adams, 311; {+1}; 3
• Audubon, 441 {+1}; 9
• Guthrie, 1,064 {+0}; 27
• Harrison County, 1,631; {+4}; 67
• Madison County, 1,333; {+2}; 13
• Mills County, 1,4258; {+7}; 20
• Montgomery, 933; {+1}; 34
• Pottawattamie County, 9,454; {+15}; 134
• Shelby County, 1,112; {+3}; 32
• Union County,  1,156; {+0}; 30

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (AP) — A teenager charged in a fatal shooting at a shopping mall in eastern Wisconsin has been extradited from Iowa, where he was arrested days after the slaying. Law enforcement officers traveled to Iowa on Friday to pick up 17-year-old Dezman Ellis. He was arrested in Des Moines on Thursday. Online records show Ellis was booked into the Outagamie County Jail in Appleton, Wisconsin, shortly before midnight.

Ellis waived his right to an extradition hearing in Iowa. Ellis is accused of killing 19-year-old Jovanni Frausto at the Fox River Mall in Grand Chute on Jan. 31 during an argument over a girl. A bystander was wounded.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Multiple news outlets reported Friday, the Clarinda Academy – a youth facility – that has been the focus of multiple investigations into alleged abuse and rape of troubled teens, is shutting down.

NBC News was among the first to announce the closing, saying a spokesperson for Sequel Youth & Family Services, which runs nearly 40 programs for vulnerable youth — including foster children and children with disabilities — did not explain why it was closing Clarinda Academy, its flagship program, and did not attribute the decision to the problems that have been documented there. The spokesperson said in a statement only that the decision was voluntary and that its license remained in good standing.

The company issued a statement that says “At Sequel, we continuously evaluate our programs to ensure we are meeting the needs of our clients. Based on a recent review, we made the voluntary decision to terminate our contract with Clarinda Academy in Iowa.” A Sequel spokesperson added, “We are now working closely with case managers, families and workers to ensure clients from these locations are placed in alternative programs that match their unique behavioral health needs.”

Sequel told the Iowa Department of Human Services this week of its plans to close the academy due to fewer children being placed at the facility. Clarinda Academy clients will be placed in alternative programs and connect employees with internal and external job opportunities, according to the statement.

The facility enrolled at-risk children ages 12 to 18 from multiple states, charging around $275 a day, per child, to provide therapeutic and residential services. Sequel has come under increasing scrutiny in the wake of a child’s death at one of its facilities last year. Allegations of negligence and physical abuse, including the improper use of restraints, have also plagued the company.