Photo from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

A 13th death due to COVID-19 has been reported in Marion County to the State of Iowa Coronavirus database. All fatalities attributed to the virus locally have occurred since September, when the first major increase in cases was seen in mid-to-late August in Marion County.

Over the past seven days, 178 new positive tests of COVID-19 were reported in Marion County. As of Monday, Marion County Public Health reported 996 recoveries fromm the virus out of the now 1,339 total since the beginning of the outbreak — an additional recoveries update will be conducted after contact tracing is completed by the Marion County Pandemic Joint Task Force.

The two week average positive test rate in Marion County is at 21.6%, which remains above the 15% threshold for schools to consider virtual learning if coupled with 10% absenteeism. Both the Pella and Knoxville Community School Districts reported low absenteeism overall, and plan to remain with in-person learning unless students and staff missing classes spikes to higher levels.