Public Health Officials: COVID Cases Increasing Significantly In Cedar Rapids Area

(Cedar Rapids, IA)  —  Public health officials say COVID-19 cases are increasing significantly in the Cedar Rapids area.  The chief medical officer at Mercy Medical Center says the hospital’s pediatric unit was moved last week to convert an entire floor for the care of COVID patients.  Doctor Tony Meyers says Mercy Medical had an average of one to four patients on any given day in June and July.  Now, it has 33 people being treated.  He compares the current situation to the surge last November.  Sixty-three percent of Linn County residents are fully vaccinated.  Officials say they’d like to see that number hit 90 percent.