Iowa Coronavirus Hospitalizations Hit New High

Forty-Eight more Iowans in hospital than previous high of 413 on May 5th

Iowa’s latest high in hospitalizations is driven by admissions across four of the state’s six regional medical coordinating centers according to data available from the Iowa Department of Health.

While admissions are climbing, the overall statewide average number of new infections remains relatively flat.  The apparent contradiction reflects a change in the demographics affected by the virus with a more even distribution across age groups than what Iowans experienced in late August.

Though the entire state is experiencing increases in admissions due to coronavirus counties north of Interstate 80 and west of Carroll are experiencing record high numbers of inpatients.

RMCC 6 that includes Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, and Dubuque climbed to a new high in hospitalizations with 111 today, far exceeding its high point back in May.

The Mason City region next door also climbed to a new peak well beyond its previous high point back in July,

Northwest Iowa, with some of the lowest population density has the highest number of Iowans receiving inpatient care at 126, sixteen more than they had during the previous spike in late May.

Record numbers of patients have not strained overall hospital capacity according to Governor Reynolds.  In acknowledging the increases, Reynolds assured the Iowans the state has adequate medical resources to address this current increase.