Over the course of just one week, regional COVID-related deaths rose by 22 while all but one of the seven-counties in the Carroll Broadcasting listening area report two-week positivity rates below 10 percent. Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Guthrie and Sac Counties have all reported additional deaths. Carroll rose by nine and now has 43 coronavirus-related deaths with a 7.8 percent positivity rate, 2,595 total positive cases of which 2,377 are recovered. Crawford County reported seven additional deaths and is the only regional county over 10 percent for positivity rates, sitting fourth in the state at 15.5 percent with 31 deaths, 2,386 positives and 2,126 recovered. Guthrie County’s death toll has risen by three to 27 with a 7.5 percent positivity rate, 1,057 positives and 950 recovered. Sac County has two additional deaths, bringing their total to 17, a 7.3 percent positivity rate, 1,142 positive cases with 1,036 recovered and Greene County has one additional death, bringing their total to eight, but are also reporting the lowest positivity rate in the state at 4.2 percent. They have 702 positive cases with 650 recovered. The AP is reporting that a large increase in the number of deaths recorded on the state website recently could partially be a result of delays at the state level after the deaths occur. Audubon County has a 6.6 percent rate with 433 positives, 376 recovered and eight deaths and Calhoun has a 5.9 percent rate, 1,248 positives, 1,173 recovered and nine deaths. For the most up-to-date statistics on a statewide or county-by-county basis, log on to coronavirus.iowa.gov.
