Waterloo Times

Iowa continues to experience a rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations despite a decrease in new cases.

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, Radio Iowa reported, 823 Iowans were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Dec. 15, which was a 6% increase from Dec. 8.

The station additionally reported that the Hawkeye State set 2021 records in new reported COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, pointing out that more than 100 of those patients are intubated and nearly 83% of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units statewide didn’t receive the vaccine.

Iowa’s COVID-19 death toll hovered near 7,700, while 54.4% of Iowans are fully vaccinated.

The recent developments are contrary to Gov. Kim Reynolds’s assertions the pandemic is over in Iowa.

“Perhaps try taking responsibility for failed public health initiatives instead of taking credit for Dems' work to help all Americans,” Patti Vasquez, the health care and human services liaison and assistant policy advisor for the Illinois Comptroller's Office, tweeted.

Reynolds, a Republican, recently joined four other GOP governors in urging U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to reconsider a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for National Guard members.

"Directives dictating whether training in a Title 32 status can occur, setting punishment requirements for refusing to be COVID-19 vaccinated and requiring separation from each state National Guard if unvaccinated are beyond (the secretary's) constitutional and statutory authority," Reynolds and the governors wrote Austin, according to Des Moines’s We Are Iowa.

The ABC affiliate reported that 91% of the Iowa Air National Guard and 80% of the Iowa Army National Guard are vaccinated as of Nov. 30.