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COVID hospitalizations, deaths continue to decline

By: - June 2, 2023 3:54 pm

Hospitalizations are one of the most reliable indicators of COVID-19 prevalence because of a lack of available data on testing of individuals. (Image by Andriy Onufriyenko/Getty Images)

The number of people with COVID-19 who are receiving inpatient treatment at Iowa hospitals is at its lowest since at least August 2020 and is steadily declining, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hospitalizations are one the most reliable indicators now of the coronavirus’ prevalence because of a lack of widespread testing of individuals that is recorded by state health officials.

There were about 28 COVID inpatients on any given day last week at Iowa hospitals. That is down from 47 the week before.

The number of COVID-related deaths also continues to decline. In its weekly respiratory surveillance report on Friday, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services noted seven new deaths. However, it’s unclear when they occurred.

The total number of COVID-related deaths in Iowa since the start of the pandemic is now about 10,935.

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Jared Strong
Jared Strong

Senior reporter Jared Strong has written about Iowans and the important issues that affect them for more than 15 years, previously for the Carroll Times Herald and the Des Moines Register.

Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

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