The number of new positive tests for coronavirus in Iowa continues to fall.  The Iowa Department of Public Health says in the week that ended Tuesday (2/8), 12,833 Iowans tested positive for COVID-19.  Two weeks ago, there were almost 35-thousand new positive tests.  As of Tuesday, 735,422 Iowans have tested positive for COVID-19 during the pandemic.  Over the past week, there were 166 new positive tests for coronavirus in Wapello County, 152 in Jasper County, 120 in Marion County, 89 in Mahaska County, 75 in Poweshiek County, 51 in Keokuk County and 34 in Monroe County.

There were another 172 deaths in Iowa with coronavirus in the week that ended Tuesday.  There were four deaths in both Wapello and Marion Counties, three in Mahaska County, two deaths with COVID in Keokuk County and one each in Jasper, Poweshiek and Monroe Counties.  Iowa’s death total for the pandemic is now 8829.

And the number of Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19 is dropping.  As of Tuesday, 617 people in the state are in the hospital with coronavirus—down 177 from the previous week.  And 96 people are in the intensive care unit with COVID—13 fewer than last week.