IOWA – Iowa’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is showing up with the drop in outbreaks at nursing homes.
As of Thursday morning, six long term care centers have outbreaks after a peak of more than 150 late last year.
Nursing homes were one of the early hot spots for the virus when it took hold across the country a year ago this month.
In a sign of the turnaround, Governor Kim Reynolds now says 90 percent of long term care residents will get a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Another sign of the recovery is showing up in the expansion this week of vaccines to adults with underlying health conditions.
A New York Times survey shows Iowa is one of 37 states now offering vaccines to those people, and one of 16 states that do not require proof of those conditions.
People in counties where vaccines haven’t expanded have been offer an option by Governor Reynolds.
Wednesday she said it’s perfectly appropriate for Iowans who can’t get a shot in their home county to look elsewhere.