Five-hundred Iowans have died from COVID-19 so far. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, as of noon Thursday 500 people had died from the upper respiratory virus, an increase of 41 since Monday. Statewide there have been 18,522 confirmed cases and of those 10,176 people have recovered, a recovery rate of nearly 55%. Of those ill, as of Thursday at noon, 383 are hospitalized, 112 are in intensive care, and 67 are on ventilators. Statewide 41% of inpatient hospital beds are available.

Washington County has had 185 confirmed cases and eight deaths, Louisa County has had 336 cases and 10 deaths, Johnson County’s case count is 607 with eight deaths, Henry County has had one death with 67 cases, Iowa County has 35 positive cases, Jefferson County is at 19, and Keokuk County has had 14 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

People are encouraged to continue social distancing, wear masks in public, and wash hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds to prevent the spread of COVID-19.