Local vaccination rates climb

More than 600 people in Winnebago County completed their COVID-19 vaccination series last week, as eligibility for the shots opened to all Iowans ages 18 and older.

The majority of the shots administered were the single-dose vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, with 435 Winnebago County residents having received that shot as of Monday, April 12. Around 250 residents also received their second shot of a two-dose vaccine last week, for a total of 2,181.

About 700 Kossuth County residents also completed their vaccination series last week, with 3,567 having received their second shot of a two-dose vaccine, and another 328 have received a single-dose vaccine.

COVID-19 activity remains low in the area, with five positive tests reported in Winnebago County between April 6-12 for a 2% positivity rate. In Kossuth County, there were 15 positive tests recorded over the past week, for a 7-day positivity rate of 4%. One additional death was reported in Kossuth County, for a total of 61, while the number of deaths in Winnebago County remains steady at 31.