IOWA - Iowa Is one of the Midwestern states with higher levels of COVID-19 cases recently, but the rate of increase seems to have tapered off.
Wisconsin and Missouri are the only neighboring states with lower rates of new cases, while Minnesota is experiencing a major outbreak.
The seven and 14-day positivity rates in Iowa are hovering around five percent in the first few days of April.
Data from the New York Times actually shows a slight drop in new cases in the last several days.
The 14-day change shows Iowa at +24 percent while the national average is +19 percent. Both figures have been fairly consistent over the past week.
Iowa did report an abnormally high number of COVID-19 deaths, 68, Sunday. By comparison, death totals have been zero or in the low single digits in the last several weeks.
As far as vaccinating people, Iowa ranks in the middle of the pack at delivering first doses.
The state ranks among the top ten in fully vaccinating people, and tied for seventh in using the doses its provided with.
Doses administered nationally have steadily ramped up, and are now averaging 3.08 million doses a day. More than four million were administered Saturday.
Data from the New York Times shows the federal government has delivered about 207.9 million doses to states, territories and federal agencies.
President Biden has set a goal of 200 million doses to be administered by his 100th day in office, which the country is on pace to meet.