SPM NEWS 12.17.20 - 5:04PM
It’s unclear why Iowa will receive fewer doses of coronavirus vaccine than initially promised by the federal government.
But the state is moving ahead with plans to relax restrictions beginning Thursday even while reporting nearly 100 additional deaths.
The Iowa Department of Public Health released a statement Wednesday evening saying the state’s allocation would be reduced by up to 30%.
The statement noted distributions were also being lowered to other states. The agency didn’t explain why the allocation would be smaller.
State officials didn’t respond to a question Thursday about the matter.
Iowa reported an additional 97 deaths on Thursday as the state’s death toll increased to 3,451. More than 262,000 have tested positive for the disease, including 70 more in Woodbury County. There have been 151 deaths in Woodbury County. Hospitalizations locally have fallen to 59 after a high in the triple digits two weeks ago.