The number of Iowans hospitalized for COVID-19 dropped to 176 Friday, the first time that number has been below 180 since July 13. The number of patients on ventilators also dipped to a new low — nine — in the 24-hour period ending at 11 a.m. Friday. That’s the fewest patients reported since the state began tracking the use of machines that help seriously ill patients breathe.The number of virus patients being treated in Iowa’s intensive care units held steady at 39.