Des Moines Sun

Iowa COVID-19 numbers are back on the rise as the state reported 9,067 new cases just last week.

This marks the third week in a row the state has reported an increase in new case numbers, with an average of 1,295 new reported cases per day as of Nov. 10 last week, an article by the Des Moines Register stated.

“While cases are climbing, the state has an additional tool to curb the virus after federal regulators approved a COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as 5,” the Des Moines Register reported. 

This rise in daily case averages represented a 19% increase over the week prior, according to the Des Moines Register. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the state has reported a total of 500,119 cases, as of Nov. 10.

Though hospitalizations had been on a downward trend in the previous four weeks, the article stated last week’s data also reported an increase in that regard, with 524 residents hospitalized due to COVID-19. Of these, 113 were placed in the intensive care unit and 52 were on ventilators. More than 70% of the patients hospitalized had not been fully vaccinated. 

A report by the Iowa Capital Dispatch stated Iowa also saw a 26% increase in COVID-19 outbreak cases in nursing homes from Nov. 2 through Nov. 12. There are 29 nursing homes are currently experiencing an active COVID-19 outbreak with 275 cases associated with these residents.