DES MOINES, Iowa - Governor Kim Reynolds is holding a news conference at 11 am Wednesday.
The address comes just after the state changed the way it determines COVID-19 deaths to include doctor diagnosis as well as positive tests.
Iowa currently ranks third in the country for its increase in virus death, although the current spike is tied to last month's COVID-19 outbreak across the state.
Interim state Public Health Director Kelly Garcia says the change in reporting virus deaths follows the federal standard and is in line with how other causes of death are recorded.
The state is reporting 21 news deaths as of early Wednesday, after a spike of nearly 200 Tuesday following the reporting change.
Governor Reynolds could also have more information during her news conference about the first delivery of COVID-19 vaccines into the state scheduled for this Sunday. Outside experts to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are meeting Thursday to discuss whether to authorize Pfizer’s shot for emergency use..
Iowa's first doses are scheduled to come from Pfizer.