Today’s NewsStand

Today’s NewsStand

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|August 26, 2021

Iowa news

More than 400,000 Iowans have tested positive for COVID-19 as state reports more than 1,000 new cases per day

The number of new reported COVID-19 cases in Iowa rose again during the past week as the Iowa State Fair wound down and the new school year ramped up. The 7,112 new COVID-19 cases reported in the past seven days brings Iowa’s total for the pandemic to more than 400,000 for the first time. The daily average of new reported cases over the past week topped 1,000 for the first time since January. It’s a similar average to what was reported in the state in mid-October 2020. The rate of new cases means a new Iowan tested positive for COVID-19 roughly once every 90 seconds over this week of reporting. (Des Moines Register)

Hospital admissions surge in Linn County, prompting pleas for vaccinations from health care officials

Unless more Linn County residents practice safety mitigation strategies, local hospitals must take steps not seen since this past fall to preserve bed capacity for the anticipated surge in new COVID-19 cases, officials say. The highly contagious delta variant of the novel coronavirus has caused a sudden surge in infections in Linn County over the past few weeks, causing a spike in COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations even among fully vaccinated residents. Officials with Cedar Rapids hospitals and Linn County Public Health are urging eligible residents to get vaccinated. They also encouraged everyone — even those fully vaccinated — to wear masks in indoor public settings and avoid crowded gatherings, among other mitigation strategies. (The Gazette)

UIHC experts push vaccination in face of rising delta variant rates

After previously experiencing a decline in cases, COVID-19 rates in Johnson County are surging, spurred by the highly contagious and transmissible delta variant. In response to this surge, health care workers are calling on the public to get vaccinated, avoid crowds and wear masks to decrease the amount of people in the intensive care unit. (Daily Iowan)

National news

Pfizer, J&J report strong antibody response from booster shots

Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson are reporting enhanced disease-fighting response from booster shots, an encouraging development in light of vaccines’ diminished effectiveness over time as the delta variant of the coronavirus has turbocharged a fourth wave of infections in the US. (USA Today)

With more than 100,000 people in the hospital with COVID-19 in the US, this August is worse than last, expert says

More than 100,000 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 in the US — the first time that level has been reached since January — as medical workers say they’re once again struggling to treat waves of patients. The latest figure, amid a summer surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the highly transmissible delta variant, is also more than double what it was on the same day last year, when vaccines were not available as they are now. (CNN)

AHA launches marketing campaign encouraging hesitant hospital workers to get vaccinated

The American Hospital Association released several public service announcements designed to persuade unvaccinated health care workers to get inoculated against COVID-19. The marketing campaigns are clinician-focused and come from the viewpoints of a physician and a nurse. The clinicians share the critical role hospitals play in the country, such as serving as a trusted voice and being ready to care for patients. (Becker’s Hospital Review)

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