Are Hospitalizations in Iowa Primarily Because of COVID-19 Decreasing?

Iowa is emerging from a record-breaking COVID-19 surge that nearly pushed the state’s hospitals to the breaking point.

But according to Gov. Kim Reynolds, the novel coronavirus was not the sole reason for those high patient counts. The Republican governor told reporters at the Iowa State Capitol Feb. 9 that data is showing patients infected during this latest surge were more likely to be admitted to hospitals for reasons aside from COVID-19.

“At the height of our hospitalizations in November 2020, for 75 percent of hospitalizations, the primary reason was COVID-19,” Reynolds said. “Today, the number of hospitalizations primarily because of COVID-19 are under 50 percent.”

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This episode of the Fact Checker podcast is researched and hosted by Michaela Ramm and features Elijah Decious, Erin Jordan, and Marissa Payne. The Fact Checker Podcast is produced by Stephen M. Colbert and music is Lobby Time by Kevin MacLeod.

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