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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa said on Wednesday it will report the data in a new process, which will focus on the total number of tests performed rather than the individuals tested.
The change will significantly reduce the positivity rate for the condition as it will divide the number of positive tests by the tests performed. Previously, Iowa reported its COVID-19 data at the individual level.
The old method ensured that each Iowan only appeared once in state data, regardless of how many times they were tested. For example, if someone took 30 tests, they were only reflected in the state’s “tested” tally once, not 30 times.
This resulted in a condition with higher test counts and a lower positivity rate. But, Iowa has not posted those numbers.
In October, the state’s public health department made the decision to display both total tests performed and people tested to reflect this challenge.
This change, which was announced on Tuesday, will only focus on the total number of tests performed. The change is expected to go live this week.
Director Garcia said he originally wanted to make the change sooner, but that delayed the change as the State Department faced an upsurge in cases in November.
Regarding vaccines, Governor Reynolds said on Tuesday the state’s vaccine supply was increasing. She said the state’s vaccine supply will increase to 62,000 doses, which she said is a 24% increase from the 49,000 the state was receiving.
She also said the White House has said the Food and Drug Administration will make a decision on emergency clearance for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine by the end of February.
Governor Kim Reynolds also announced that the state will not be moving forward with Microsoft’s centralized COVID-19 vaccine appointment booking website. Our KCRG-TV9 i9 survey unit reported on Tuesday that several counties were unsure whether they would use the site.
Reynolds cited challenges other states have faced in vaccine rollout and conversations with vaccine partners, for the decision not to go ahead with the contract.
“It quickly became clear that integrating the many already existing recording and planning platforms that are used by some of our public health departments, pharmacies, as well as other vaccine providers, would not be possible, in a timely manner, without their current systems, and we didn’t want to slow the progress we’re making, ”said Reynold.
Instead, Reynolds said the state was shifting its focus from building a new system to optimizing the overall registration and scheduling process for the Iowans.
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