Waterloo Times

As the omicron variant continues to run rampant, Iowa sees 59 more COVID-19 deaths reported for the state.

The new 59 deaths were reported between July 16 and Dec. 23, bringing the state total to 7,858. 

Iowa averages 1,566 cases per day, an increase from 1,300 per day a week ago, the Associated Press reported.

"Make sure you protect yourself by getting a COVID-19 booster," the Iowa Department of Public Health said in a tweet Dec. 30. "Everyone age 16+ that has completed their COVID-19 shot series is eligible."

As of Dec. 29, the seven-day positivity rate was 10,162 cases, according to AP.

"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows Iowa has the ninth highest seven-day death rate in the nation, with 3.8 deaths per 100,000 people," AP reported. New Mexico is the highest at 8 per 100,000.

Some 711 Iowa residents were hospitalized, with 165 in intensive care, according to AP. Of those in the hospital, 80.6% were unvaccinated. 

"The Iowa Department of Public Safety said Wednesday, (Dec. 29,) 16 children under the age of 17 were hospitalized with COVID-19 including 10 children under the age of 11 and six between age 12 and 17," AP reported. "All are unvaccinated."

The inventor of the mRNA technology that is used in vaccines spoke at a summit Nov. 6 warning parents about rushing to vaccinate children, according to TrialSite News.

“The real risk for healthy kids is about zero — it does appear to be lower than the flu,” Dr. Robert Malone said, according to TrialSite News. Inoculating 28 million children 5 to 11 years old "could lead to 'a thousand or more excess deaths.'"