A variant of COVID-19 that spreads more easily than the strain that has already infected more than 319,000 Iowans has been detected in the state, the Iowa Department of Public Health announced Monday. The department said three cases of COVID-19 caused by the B117 variant — also known as the U.K. variant, since it was […]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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Iowa will now follow CDC standards for reporting COVID-19 deaths
Last week, the Iowa Department of Public Health set a record by reporting 70 deaths from COVID-19 in a 24-hour period. On Tuesday at 10 a.m., IDPH reported 202 more deaths from the virus. But as Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) Director Kelly Garcia explained to reporters on Monday night, 175 of those cases […]
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COVID-19: CDC has a new definition of ‘close contact,’ Iowa has another new record for hospitalized patients
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its definition of what constitutes “close contact” with someone who has COVID-19. Previously, the CDC had defined close contact as being within six feet of a person who has tested positive for 15 consecutive minutes. But under the revised definition issued on Wednesday, being within six feet […]
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Another 389 Iowans test positive for COVID-19
The Iowa Department of Public Health reported another 389 cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed during the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. on Sunday. The new cases increase the number of Iowans who have tested positive for the virus to 42,016. The 389 new cases came from 6,005 tests, IDPH reported, giving the state […]
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COVID-19: Iowa has its highest one-day increase in cases since May, the surge in Johnson County continues
Iowa saw its second-highest daily increase in COVID-19 cases on Friday, as the Iowa Department of Public Health reported another 744 Iowans had tested positive for the virus during the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. Only the daily total on May 2 of 757 exceeded the number of new cases reported on Friday. Part […]
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Iowa Department of Education guidance for reopening schools says requiring face masks is ‘not recommended’
On Thursday, the Iowa Department of Education (DOE) issued its guidance for schools to safely reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic. The document immediately attracted attention for a paragraph stating that policies that mandate the wearing of face masks or other coverings that experts say limit the spread of the virus are “not recommended.” Requiring face […]
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The CDC updates its list of COVID-19 symptoms, adds six more conditions
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added six more conditions to its list of symptoms that may indicate a person has COVID-19. Previously, the agency only listed three symptoms: fever, cough and shortness of breath. The symptoms added to the list are: • Chills • Repeated shaking with chills • Muscle pain • […]
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Iowa City Transit asks bus riders to wear cloth masks
Iowa City Transit is asking riders to wear to cloth masks while on city buses. “Wearing a cloth mask while riding transit will help keep both the drivers and riders safe, and limit the spread of COVID-19. City bus drivers also have access to, and wear, masks,” Iowa City Transit said in a written statement […]
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Linn County officials, preparing for a ‘patient surge,’ urge residents to stay home, wear a cloth mask if out
At the start of Linn County Public Health’s Monday press conference, Supervisor Stacey Walker shared how the county’s confirmed cases of COVID-19 have changed in only a week’s time. “When I last spoke to you, just under a week ago, there were 71 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Linn County,” Walker said. “Now, we have […]
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More Iowans test positive for hepatitis C liver infection, report says
Three times as many Iowans were diagnosed with the hepatitis C liver infection in 2015 than in 2000, according to a report from the Iowa Department of Public Health. The disease is the leading cause of liver cancer and liver transplants in the U.S., data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows. […]
