Today’s NewsStand

Today’s NewsStand

By Iowa Hospital Association|
|November 15, 2021

Iowa news

Iowa’s nursing home staff COVID-19 vaccination rates have improved but still lag behind the national average

The COVID-19 vaccination rate of Iowa’s nursing home staff increased by 4 percentage points as of mid-October, but the state’s rate still lags behind national figures, according to data compiled by AARP Iowa. The analysis by AARP, using nursing home data that is required to be reported to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, found 71% of Iowa’s nursing home staff were vaccinated as of last month, which is below the national rate of 74%. (Iowa Public Radio)

MercyOne North Iowa cancels nonemergency surgeries

MercyOne North Iowa is delaying nonemergency surgeries scheduled early this week in response to a recent surge in local COVID-19 cases. MercyOne is operating on limited capacity and officials say the demand for patient beds is exceeding those available. Cerro Gordo Public Health reported a 14-day positivity rate of 11.4% and a seven-day positivity rate of 13.9% in the county, both of which exceed the statewide rate of 9.4% and 8.9%, respectively. The new data represents a four-point increase for the 14-day rate and a five-point increase in the seven-day rate compared to last week. (The Globe Gazette)

COVID Recovery Iowa offers counseling for employees and employers to navigate through COVID-19 concerns

There is no doubt that COVID-19 has affected every aspect of our lives, and our workplace is no exception. For nearly every employee and employer, their work life has been changed. COVID Recovery Iowa helps business owners and their staff navigate through this difficult time through dedicated support sessions in the coming months. They will be actively working with people on issues such as: concerns about being exposed to the virus at work; having to take time off if you don’t feel well; the pressures of taking care of family members during work hours; the constantly changing rules and guidelines for masks, vaccines and returning to the workplace, and uncertainty about the stability of employment. (KCIM)

 

National news

Cleveland Clinic mandates COVID-19 vaccination
To comply with federal vaccination requirements, Cleveland Clinic is mandating that its employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Cleveland Clinic employees must be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4, in accordance with the CMS emergency regulation that requires vaccination for eligible staff at health care facilities that participate in Medicare or Medicaid. Cleveland Clinic’s mandate applies to the health system’s U.S. employees and those who provide services with the organization. (Becker’s Hospital Review)

New clues to the biology of long COVID-19 are starting to emerge

Researchers have been scrambling to figure out why some people experience persistent, often debilitating symptoms after contracting COVID-19 — and they have several theories. There are some new, potentially revealing, clues in some patients’ bloodwork, which are showing unusual activities in the patients’ immune systems. Although much more research is needed, the researchers hope these findings could eventually lead to ways to help long-COVID-19 patients. (National Public Radio)

COVID-19 makes spotty resurgence in the US before Thanksgiving

The seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases — which had been on the decline nationally since September — first plateaued and is now ticking upward, with states in different regions experiencing the most pronounced increase in cases. The seven-day average of COVID-19 cases in the United States remained below 80,000 since Oct. 18. As of Nov. 14, it sat at 86,778, according to Johns Hopkins University’s worldwide case tracker. The upward trajectory precedes the Thanksgiving holiday, which is expected to involve greater travel and congregation than in 2020. (Becker’s Hospital Review)

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