Iowa reports another 20 COVID-19 deaths and 819 new cases in past 24 hours

The state has been changing how it reports testing data, which has caused spikes in the rate of positive data. Before the changes, the state was consistently reporting a positivity rate, that is, the percentage of tests that were positive, below 10%. Iowa also is now counting the results of antigen tests, a relatively rapid type of coronavirus tests, that will increase the reported rates of infection in some counties. On Thursday, the state was reporting 10.5% positive since the pandemic started. Of the tests the state has reported since 10 a.m. Wednesday, 12.4% were positive, according to a Des Moines Register analysis. Iowa's 14-day average was 9.7% positive, according to the state