IOWA - Iowa is outperforming most of its neighboring states in battling the current wave of COVID-19.
It's now joined Missouri in a New York Times category of states where new cases are lower, while the other surrounding states are in a more elevated category.
Neighboring Illinois, and especially Minnesota are experiencing sharp increases in COVID-19.
Data from the New York Times shows news cases in Iowa are down by 16 percent over the past 14 days.
Numbers compiled by the Times show Iowa's deaths are down by 34 percent over the past 14 days, although deaths are up by 12 percent. The number of COVID-19 tests has remained flat, which would back up a consistency in the numbers being reported.
Another midwestern state, Michigan, has had far and away the biggest surge in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks.
As of Monday, 16 of the country’s 17 metro areas with the highest recent case rates were in Michigan. The state's new cases have risen 42 percent in the last 14 days.