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The coronavirus pandemic remains a threat — particularly to young children, according to health officials.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hospitalization rates from COVID-19 have increased recently for children 11 years of age and younger. The infection rates for children and adolescents are at their highest levels since the pandemic began, according to an Oct. 12 CDC report. To keep children safe, the CDC recommends face masks for “all students, teachers and staff while indoors, along with COVID-19 vaccination and testing and physical distancing.”
As of Oct. 13, 44.4 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the U.S. In Iowa, cases, tests, hospitalizations and deaths are trending downward, with 469,457 cases, according to the New York Times. The state reports 6,748 deaths. About 55% of Iowans are fully vaccinated.
The National Center for Health Statistics reports 107,323 Black Americans have died of COVID-19, as of Oct. 13.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the racial gaps in COVID-19 cases have narrowed among Black, Hispanic and whites, and vaccination rates have increased among Blacks and Hispanics overall and are “approaching parity” with whites. The KFF report shows “uninsured, Republicans, rural residents and white Evangelical Christians” as the least vaccinated groups.
According to the state’s coronavirus website, 19% of Blacks are fully vaccinated.
Iowa has a test positivity rate of 9.2%.
84% of patients in ICUs and 79.2% of patients in hospitals are unvaccinated, according to the state's website.
Just Voices, a movement to end racial profiling in Des Moines, wants to increase voter turnout – especially in Des Moines Ward 1, which includes 50310, 50311 and parts of 50314, organizers said. The organization will hold a forum next week for Des Moines residents who are interested in the upcoming election on Nov. 2. Organizers said equity in policing, public safety, police accountability and transparency “is on the ballot.” The organization wants to “inspire and educate” residents about candidates’ stance on racial justice initiatives that have been presented to the city council during the past several years and discuss what it sees as a lack of support for the initiatives. The public forum will be held online at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21. Attendees must register in advance at www.justvoicesia.org/elections.
The organization has prepared Talking Points about the election for residents.
Read more about Just Voices on Black Iowa News.
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Check out the updated list of Black candidates for mayor, city councils and school boards in Iowa.
