Linn County sees highest single-day increase in coronavirus cases

Linn County reported 68 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, its highest single-day total since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Since March, Linn County has had 2,229 confirmed cases coronavirus cases.

The Linn total was second only to Polk County, which reported 108 new cases.

Linn County's rolling seven-day average on Thursday was 42, the highest such average. The rolling seven-day average is the average number of positive coronavirus tests over the past seven days, updated by The Gazette at 11 a.m. daily with new data.

Johnson County reported 33 new coronavirus cases, bringing its total to 2,012 and its rolling seven-day average to 25.

Johnson County also reported its 16th virus-related death on Thursday.

Twelve other deaths were reported Thursday, for a total of 907.

Counties reporting two deaths each were Franklin, Polk and Pottawattamie counties. Counties reporting one virus-related death, in addition to Johnson, were Black Hawk, Jasper, Lyon, Montgomery, Scott and Wapello counties.

The Lyon County death was the first for that county, the 75th county out of Iowa's 99 counties to register a COVID-19 fatality.

Statewide, 647 new coronavirus cases were reported out of 7,007 tests, for a positive rate of 9.23 percent.

The number of Iowans hospitalized for the coronavirus dropped from 248 to 237, and the number of patients in intensive care units decreased from 77 to 68. Patients on ventilators also dropped from 34 to 32.

Solon Nursing Care Center added one COVID-19 case, for a total of 36 cases.

Here are the 10 counties with the most coronavirus cases in Iowa:

1. Polk County: 9,944

2. Woodbury County: 3,684

3. Black Hawk County: 3,067

4. Linn County: 2,229

5. Johnson County: 2,012

6. Dallas County: 1,821

7. Buena Vista County: 1,791

8. Scott County: 1,642

9. Dubuque County: 1,607

10. Marshall County: 1,415

These counties saw double-digit increases or more in the past 24 hours:

1. Polk County: 108

2. Linn County: 68

3. Dubuque County: 35

4. Black Hawk County: 34

5. Johnson County: 33

6. Webster County: 31

7. Pottawattamie County: 24

8. Woodbury County: 22

9. Scott County: 20

10. Dallas County: 18

11. Marshall County: 16

12. Wapello County: 16

13. Des Moines County: 12

John McGlothlen of The Gazette contributed to this report.

Comments: (319) 398-8371; brooklyn.draisey@thegazette.com