State officials have changed the method for publicly reporting the number of Covid-related deaths in Iowa, using the same system as the National Center for Health Statistics. The change initially added at least 177 deaths to the state count overnight. Iowa Department of Human Services director Kelly Garcia says the state is now using a special code number on death certificates indicating Covid was the underlying cause or a contributing factor to the death of an Iowan.

“It is a more fulsome picture of exactly what happened surrounding that death, rather than a case investigation which has bits and pieces and is accurate, to the best of our knowledge, but this is really relying on the full medical record.”

Until Monday (12/7), state officials not only required Covid to be cited on a death certificate, but required proof the person had tested positive for the virus using a test that detects the genetic material of Covid-19.

Using the new method for reporting coronavirus deaths, the pandemic total in Iowa is now 2915…with 17 additional deaths reported Tuesday (12/8).  The new county by county totals show 83 deaths in Wapello County where COVID-19 was either the underlying factor or a contributing factor in a death; 44 deaths in Jasper County, 25 in Marion County, 30 in Mahaska County, 18 in Poweshiek County, 13 in Keokuk County and 14 in Monroe County.

Another 1393 positive coronavirus tests were reported in Iowa Tuesday for a pandemic total of 246,237. 26 new positive tests were reported in Marion County, 14 in Wapello County, 12 in Mahaska County, 11 in Jasper County, nine in Keokuk County, seven in Poweshiek County and one new positive test in Monroe County.