Outbreaks at Iowa Care Centers Growing, Infecting More Than 200

Published by Scott Stewart on Thu, 04/16/2020 - 3:36pm

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds holds a news conference on COVID-19 at the State Emergency Operations Center on Tuesday, April 14, 2020, in Johnston, Iowa. (Brian Powers/ Des Moines Register via AP)

Ryan J. Foley

The Associated Press

Iowa City, Iowa – More than 200 residents and employees have tested positive for the coronavirus in a growing number of outbreaks at Iowa long-term care facilities.

New statistics released last Tuesday by the Iowa Department of Public Health show the number of state-confirmed outbreaks at those facilities has doubled to six.

The agency defines an outbreak as one in which three residents test positive for COVID-19.

The agency says the new outbreaks include 22 cases at a rehabilitation center for the disabled in Ankeny; six at a Des Moines nursing home specializing in dementia care; and six at a Lutheran retirement home in Waverly.

Several more of Iowa’s 440 long-term care facilities have reported coronavirus infections of residents and staff that do not reach the outbreak threshold.

The state’s largest outbreak remains at Heritage Specialty Care in Cedar Rapids, where 102 residents and staff have tested positive for COVID-19. Seventeen residents have died from the disease as of last Monday.