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With cases and hospitalizations spiking once again — despite the availability of a vaccine — Iowa is experiencing its third significant surge of the 18-month COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Quad-City Times. COVID-19 cases in Iowa are surging. The rolling, two-week average of daily new cases is seven times higher than it was roughly six weeks ago and is at its highest since late February, according to the most recent state data. COVID-related hospitalizations also are increasing exponentially: five times higher than roughly six weeks ago and the highest since roughly late January and early February, according to the state data.
According to the Omaha World-Herald, with the delta variant fueling a rise in COVID-19 cases in Nebraska, the state continues to fall short in testing for the virus. The testing troubles are not necessarily new, nor are they unique to Nebraska. But the latest shortcoming is occurring when case numbers are rising, schools are returning to in-person learning, and some employers are weighing whether to bring employees back to the office. The combination of factors has some officials worried that Nebraska could be facing a crisis similar to that in Southern states, where hospitals are overwhelmed in a matter of weeks.
Organizers of an annual political event at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake are canceling this year’s gathering. The Iowa Democratic Wing Ding had been scheduled for August 20, but according to a tweet on the group’s Twitter account, it’s been canceled because of “the rapid spread of the Delta variant” of Covid. Wing Dings of the past have featured presidential hopefuls and Democrats seeking state office.
