(Iowa) -- COVID-19 cases are up in Iowa and across the Midwest.
The Iowa Department of Public Health reports an increase in hospitalizations, as well the COVID positivity rate. The statewide average positivity rate is up to 9.7%, the highest it's been in months.
Hospitalizations are at 544, compared with less than 100 in July. A year ago today, 1,527 people were hospitalized in Iowa with COVID-19.
The New York Times' COVID tracking map shows Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Michigan among states with the highest number of cases in the nation.